Bongani Mayosi Foundation Award for Outstanding Medical Student

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‘An incredible honour and a deeply humbling experience’ is how newly-graduated Medical doctor, Dr Thabiso Zondi, described his feelings when the Bongani Mayosi Foundation awarded him the National Student Academic Prize for 2024. 

Zondi received the recognition for following in the mould of the late Professor Bongani Mayosi, exemplifying the medical icon’s exceptional qualities of academic brilliance, emotional intelligence and social responsiveness. 

The winner is chosen through electronic voting by classmates ensuring that the recipient has genuinely earned respect and admiration of his or her classmates. The prize includes a monetary award of R10 000 with an additional R5 000 allocated to cover travel and accommodation to enable Zondi to attend the Annual Bongani Mayosi Memorial Lecture and Award Ceremony in Cape Town this year. He also received a Point of Care Butterfly IQ Ultrasound valued at R70 000 and a 10^th-generation iPad to assist with diagnostic skills in various hospitals 

‘This reflects not only my personal efforts, but also the mentorship and support I’ve received throughout my journey,’ said Zondi who, like Mayosi, completed his MBChB at UKZN, and is currently serving as a Medical intern at the Ladysmith Regional Hospital. ‘I chose this facility to challenge myself outside my comfort zone,’ he said. 

Originally from Mophela in Hammarsdale, KwaZulu-Natal, Zondi said his journey had been built around the Foundation’s core values. ‘At Medical School, I consistently pursued academic excellence while actively participating in community initiatives. Beyond serving as the MBChB Class of 2024 Representative and Academic Mentor in Internal Medicine, Surgery, and Family Medicine, I held other roles such as House Committee Secretary and Captain of the Medics Academy FC soccer team, leading it to scoring four trophies from 2022 to 2024. Through these experiences, I honed my interpersonal skills, developed empathy and remained committed to serving others - values essential to practising medicine responsibly.’ 

He said his love for Medicine was inspired when he was a youngster by their family GP, UKZN alumnus, Dr Bongisipho Mthembu. ‘His love for his patients and his profession were laudatory. The admiration I had for him fuelled my drive to work hard, achieve good grades and eventually enter Medical school. The unwavering support from my family during high school also played a crucial role in my journey.’ 

Zondi said among his highlights at Medical School was the Rural Medicine Block, which involved spending six weeks in rural areas. ‘During this time, I felt a profound connection to Medicine – educating and assisting a large number of people and witnessing their gratitude for even the smallest interventions was incredibly rewarding.’ 

He acknowledged his family, friends and mentors who supported his journey to become a Medical doctor. ‘I am also immensely grateful to the consultants, doctors and support staff at UKZN who made the Medical School experience more manageable and enriching,’ said Zondi.

Zondi said after completing his internship community service, he hopes to specialise as an internal medicine registrar, with a long-term goal of becoming a nephrologist. ‘Additionally, I am passionate about political and economic studies.’ 

In his spare time, he enjoys playing soccer and hopes to join a team in Ladysmith soon. ‘I also spend time meditating, and reading the Bible and self-help books,’ he said.

Words: Lunga Memela

Photograph: Sethu Dlamini