Limpopo Leader - University of Limpopo

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Campus with a pastTHE SCHOOL THAT’S TAKEN A BIGdDENTAL HEALTH CARE FOR‘NON-WHITES’ WAS ALL BUTNON-EXISTENT IN SOUTHAFRICA BEFORE THE 60S, SAYSDR AK SEEDAT, PART-TIMELECTURER AT THE UL’S SCHOOLOF DENTISTRY FOR ABOUT25 YEARS AND A PRACTISINGORTHODONTIST. It was a realitythat affected him too. ‘As far asI can recall, the only dental clinicthat I knew of at the time was onerun by the University ofWitwatersrand in Alexandratownship.’Problems with sepsis and oralpain abounded in blackcommunities and while theirwhite counterparts received, orhad access to dental clinics thatcould meet their primary dentalneeds, blacks did not. Dentaldiseases increased exponentially,which led to the establishing ofa dental faculty in the Universityof the Western Cape in the early70s – a step-child of theUniversity of Stellenbosch, saysSeedat.‘But the school served only thecoloured and Asian communities.No blacks or whites wereallowed.’ The Soweto riots thenfurther highlighted the excruciatinglack of facilities at all levelsfor blacks in South Africa – andthe concept of a medicaluniversity for blacks was acceptedby the country’s apartheid leaders.Lobbying for a dental school wasDr AK Seedattaking place at the highest levelat the same time, motivatedprimarily by Professor LeonTaljaard, later principal ofMedunsa, recalls Seedat. Thiswas also approved.Seedat in the meantime hadobtained his degree in dentistryat the University of the WesternCape and had moved up to Witsto specialise. He became the first‘black’ person to qualify as anorthodontist in Africa; anachievement that was supremelyagainst the odds.Seedat was one of 10 children,P A G E 2 8
BITE OUT OF LIFEborn to illiterate parents living inAlexandra township. His parentshad come to South Africa in theearly 1900s and settled inNorwood, Johannesburg, but theywere forcibly moved toKensington, and then soon after,to Alex. His father ran a smallbusiness and with much difficultywas able to send Seedat and oneof his sisters to university.Seedat’s political activism hadhim expelled from school andrefused entry to Wits. But with thedetermination of a bulldog,Seedat overcame the oddsstacked against him and achievedhis degrees.When he was eventuallyaccepted into Wits, he says itgave him a world-class education.The consultants were exceptionallypatient and their input made allthe difference to him, while at thesame time inspiring him to give toother disadvantaged students inthe same way.Having already madesomething of a mark in academicdentistry, Seedat wanted to givesomething back to the profession.In 1984 he became a part-timelecturer at then Medunsa and stillcontinues to this day. ‘Nearlyevery single black student whohas attended UL’s Faculty ofDentistry since 1984 has beentaught by me,’ he announces withjustifiable pride.Seedat’s memories of hisearlier days at Medunsa are, onthe whole, positive. He explainsthat while there were some‘troublesome incidents’, involvingstudents, staff and police on themedical side of the university, hedoesn’t recall any serious eventthat related directly to the dentalfaculty. Relations between blackand white staff members werecordial, he maintains, as severalof the white staff were activistswith understanding and sympathyof the political situation.‘The academic standard hasremained excellent throughout thefaculty’s history, and the culture ofresearch is good.’He recalls some of thecolleagues, mentors, friends andassociates that he has workedwith through the years –professors, consultants, hygienists,laboratory technicians, personalassistants, and many others –people who made a real effort tomake a difference. And they did.On a lighter note, he alsowistfully recalls delightful anddisorganised informal sportingevents – rugby, squash, andcricket – entered intowholeheartedly by staff membersof all shapes, sizes and colours.Those were in the very earlydays, and they fell away whenlife on campus became moreserious and demanding.Seedat has a regret though.He believes not enough is beingdone now to attract consultants tothe School of Dentistry. Whileeverything is in place in terms ofthe school’s credibility, hebelieves that the distance isprohibitive for most people. ‘Thefact is, one doesn’t become aconsultant at the Ga-Rankuwacampus to make money. Onedoes it for other reasons.I learned during the struggle justhow important it is to give.’He’s deeply impressed by whathas been achieved at Medunsaand now the University ofLimpopo throughout its history,particularly in the School ofDentistry. It was the exceptionallevel of commitment from thepeople who worked there thatmade all the difference. ‘Theseare people who should berecognised and applauded fortheir selfless dedication,’ is hisheartfelt belief. ‘Their contributionhas made a powerful mark notonly on the progress of the dentalprofession in South Africa, butalso on South African society.The institution owes these peoplea huge debt of thanks.’Today the best thing about theGa-Rankuwa campus for Seedat isthat it is de-racialised. And thatmakes it a pleasure for him tovisit faithfully every week, comerain or sunshine.P A G E 2 9
Page 1 and 2: LIMPOPONUMBER 17AUTUMN 2009IeaderDI
Page 3 and 4: LETTERS TO THE EDITORA REQUEST FROM
Page 5 and 6: IN THIS ISSUEcover picture:A young
Page 7 and 8: The Bigger PictureThe original moti
Page 9 and 10: IS LIMPOPO PROVINCEGETTING ITS MONE
Page 11 and 12: Polly Boshielo, a senior transporta
Page 13 and 14: World economic crisisMBOWENI SPEAKS
Page 15 and 16: negative social consequences in Sou
Page 17 and 18: food and shelter from friends andre
Page 19 and 20: Limpopo’s very own medical traini
Page 21 and 22: Limpopo’s very own medical traini
Page 23 and 24: Profile: Professor Errol HollandA C
Page 25 and 26: Cross where for a further year he d
Page 27 and 28: Campus with a pastSCHOOL OF DENTIST
Page 29: First two black veterinarians to qu
Page 33 and 34: world’s most deserving candidates
Page 35 and 36: UNIVERSITY OF LIMPOPOALUMNI SEARCHP

Limpopo Leader - University of Limpopo

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