Professor Lindiwe Zungu is a Full Professor of Occupational Health and Head of the Occupational Health and Safety (OHS) in Mining Research Hub. She is a multiple award-winning scholar, nationally recognised for her cutting-edge research in occupational health within the South African Mining Industry (SAMI).
She holds a PhD in Occupational Health (2003) and a Global Clinical Scholars Research Training (GCSRT) certificate from Harvard Medical School (2018), reflecting a strong foundation in occupational health, health systems leadership, and research excellence.
With over two decades of experience, she has been actively involved in occupational health and safety research in the mining sector funded by the Mine Health and Safety Council (MHSC) and the South African Medical Research Council (SAMRC) since 2005, and has led several high-impact projects that have contributed significantly to the development of evidence-based policy, national Codes of Practice, and strengthened occupational health and safety systems in mining.
Her long-standing partnership with the MHSC and SAMRC as a researcher in occupational health and safety has enabled her to leverage extensive networks and build strategic collaborations with key stakeholders across the mining industry, contributing to the effective advancement of occupational health interventions and solutions in the sector.
Her research focuses on occupational diseases in mining, women’s health in mining, psychosocial risk in high-risk work environments, and occupational health systems strengthening, with a strong emphasis on translating research into policy and practice. She has made a substantial contribution to human capital development, having successfully supervised and mentored over 45 postgraduate students, primarily in occupational health and mining.
Her distinguished career is marked by several prestigious recognitions, including the NRF C-rating (2016), the SAMRC Career Development Award (2006–2009), the Distinguished Woman Scientist Award by the Department of Science and Technology (2015), the TW Kambule Award by the NTSF–South32 (2019), and the SAMRC Merit Award for Research Capacity Development and Transformation (2024).
Professor Zungu brings strategic leadership, policy authority, and deep expertise in mining and occupational health to the DHAIOH Unit, ensuring the delivery of high-impact, policy-relevant, and transformative research that advances worker health, safety, and wellbeing in the mining sector.
Contact Details
Address:
University of Witwatersrand, Faculty of Health Sciences, School of Therapeutic Sciences
Office 261/1, Health Sciences Building, 7 York Road, Parktown, 2193
Tel office: 0117179369
Email: lindiwe.zungu@wits.ac.za
https://www.wits.ac.za/dhaioh-unit/