In conversation with …
In conversation with …
Dr Sibongile Mashaphu
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Sibongile Mashaphu is a specialist psychiatrist and lecturer in the Department of Psychiatry at the University of KwaZulu-Natal ( UKZN ). Initially inspired to become a teacher , she shifted her focus to medicine and now practices at Ascot Park Hospital and Netcare St Augustine ’ s Hospital . Learn more about her journey , experiences and commitment to mental wellness and professional development in South Africa .
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TELL US ABOUT YOUR EARLY CHILDHOOD .
My formative years were the best part of my life . I was born in Polokwane , Limpopo and grew up in a township called Lebowakgomo . In those days , the township had only one primary school called Little Bedfordview . At the end of my primary schooling , I was convinced I would become a teacher , basing my dreams on the fact that we were taught by some very talented and inspiring teachers . I then moved to Motse Maria High School , another public institution of excellence , from where I matriculated in 1990 .
WHAT INSPIRED YOUR INTEREST IN PSYCHIATRY AND HOW HAS YOUR JOURNEY FROM STUDENT TO TEACHER SHAPED YOUR CAREER HIGHLIGHTS ?
As a child , I dreamed of being a teacher but my focus shifted to medicine in matric . I applied to UKZN and receiving my acceptance telegram was life-changing . Medical school required discipline , hard work and resilience , especially during the intense preclinical years .
After graduation , I aimed for postgraduate studies in either psychiatry or dermatology . My decision to specialise in psychiatry solidified during my community service at Groothoek Hospital , where an inspiring team and the evident shortage of psychiatrists in South Africa captured my interest .
I worked in the UK with the Bupa Group for a year but returned home in 2001 , ready for the next chapter . This led to a psychiatry registrar position in early 2002 , making my postgraduate studies more manageable thanks to my passion for the field and a supportive environment . By 2005 , I qualified as a specialist psychiatrist , balancing teaching , research and clinical responsibilities – an ideal mix for someone who has always loved teaching , medicine and psychology .
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