The South African Medical Research Council (SAMRC) proudly congratulates Professor Rachel Jewkes, Executive Scientist at the SAMRC and Honorary Professor in the School of Public Health at the University of the Witwatersrand (Wits), on receiving the 2025/2026 National Science and Technology Forum (NSTF)-South32 Lifetime Award.
Prof Jewkes received South Africa's highest science honour in recognition of her leadership in the SAMRC's research on gender-based violence (GBV) and health over the past three decades, making an outstanding contribution to improving the health, safety and wellbeing of women and girls in South Africa and globally.
The NSTF-South32 Awards, recognise and celebrate outstanding contributions to science, engineering, technology (SET) and innovation by individuals, teams and organisations. Since their inception in 1998, the awards have honoured researchers and innovators whose work has advanced scientific excellence, informed policy, strengthened research capacity and improved lives in South Africa and beyond. The awards are presented annually across multiple categories, with the Lifetime Award recognising individuals whose sustained contributions have transformed their fields over many years.
Prof Jewkes is internationally recognised as one of the world's foremost researchers in gender-based violence, sexual and reproductive health, HIV prevention and gender equity. Throughout her distinguished career, she has generated groundbreaking evidence on the causes, prevention and health consequences of violence against women and girls. Her research has shaped national and international policies, informed legislation, influenced prevention programmes and strengthened health system responses to GBV. As an Executive Scientist at the SAMRC, she has mentored generations of researchers while leading multidisciplinary studies that continue to advance scientific understanding and improve public health outcomes across Africa and globally.
The SAMRC also celebrates the outstanding achievements of other researchers who were honoured at this year's awards.
In the Special Annual Theme Award: Healthy Ageing, Professor Kathleen Kahn and Professor Stephen Tollman were recognised for their contribution to building evidence for healthy ageing across the life course in South and sub-Saharan Africa.
Prof Kahn is a Professor of Public Health at Wits University, Principal Scientist at the SAMRC/Wits Agincourt Research Unit and Head of the Interdisciplinary PhD Programme in Public and Population Health at Wits. Prof Tollman serves as Director of the SAMRC/Wits Rural Public Health and Health Transitions Research Unit, Head of the Health and Population Division at the Wits School of Public Health and Director of the Agincourt Node of the South African Population Research Infrastructure Network (SAPRIN). Their pioneering work has significantly advanced understanding of population health, ageing, health transitions and public health systems, providing evidence that continues to inform policy and improve health across the region.
The SAMRC further congratulates Dr Edith Phalane, Manager of the SAMRC/University of Johannesburg Pan African Centre for Epidemics Research Unit, who received the TW Kambule-NSTF Award: Emerging Researcher. She was recognised for her role in generating public health evidence to understand local epidemics and inform future pandemics, improving health outcomes across populations. Her work is helping strengthen epidemic preparedness and public health responses in South Africa and across the continent.
On behalf of the organisation, the SAMRC President and CEO, Professor Ntobeko Ntusi, extended his heartfelt congratulations to Professor Rachel Jewkes on receiving the prestigious Lifetime Award, to Professor Kathleen Kahn and Professor Stephen Tollman for their exceptional contribution to healthy ageing research, and to Dr Edith Phalane on being recognised as one of South Africa's outstanding emerging researchers.
“Their achievements reflect the depth of scientific excellence within the SAMRC and demonstrate the organisation's enduring commitment to advancing health through innovative, impactful and policy-relevant research that changes lives. Receiving these awards further demonstrates the SAMRC's commitment to conducting world-class health research that addresses South Africa's most pressing health challenges while contributing to global scientific excellence,” said Professor Ntusi.