Healing Hands: Dr Mazibuko’s Story of Purpose and Passion

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Dr Senzelwe Mazibuko’s life story began in the rural village of Mahlabathi, nestled in the northern part of KwaZulu-Natal.

It was there, in a community with limited access to healthcare, that his path into physiotherapy was unknowingly paved by a personal tragedy. 

At a young age, Mazibuko watched helplessly as his beloved mother suffered a debilitating stroke. The lack of local rehabilitation services in the area meant she had to be transported to Pietermaritzburg - a delay that significantly impacted her recovery. Tragically, she passed away before he began his career in Physiotherapy. 

Spurred by that painful experience, Mazibuko has made it his life’s mission to help prevent others suffering a similar fate because of inaccessible healthcare. ‘We cannot wait for government alone to resolve the scarcity of rehabilitation services,’ said Mazibuko. ‘We have a role to play in changing the status quo.’ 

After completing his junior degree in Physiotherapy, he immersed himself in both the public and private health sectors where he observed stark disparities in service delivery and access. Inspired to be a catalyst for change, he returned to academia with a vision to develop a model of partnership between the public and private sectors that would address these challenges in a sustainable way. 

His doctoral research proposes a Public-Private Partnership (PPP) model that aligns with South Africa’s commitment to Universal Health Coverage through the National Health Insurance (NHI). The model advocates for shared resources, cross-sector collaboration and community-centred care. Its goal is simple yet profound, to guarantee timely, equitable and quality rehabilitation services across all communities, especially underserved rural areas. 

In 2021, guided by faith and purpose, Mazibuko realised a long-held dream - the establishment of Senzelwisihe Rehabilitation Hospital, a facility designed not just to serve but to stand as a pilot for his proposed PPP model. The hospital, which he is the director of, embodies his belief that with the right partnerships, a healthcare system can be created where every person regardless of their location or background can access the rehabilitation they need and deserve. 

Mazibuko’s academic contributions are equally inspiring. He has authored four peer-reviewed journal articles, with two more accepted for publication. In September 2024, he presented his ground-breaking work at an international physiotherapy conference in Cape Town, solidifying his voice on the global stage.

Mazibuko is one of only two Black African men to hold a PhD in Physiotherapy from UKZN. 

His academic journey has been closely supported by his dedicated supervisors, Professor Thayananthee Nadasan, who has guided him from undergraduate to doctoral level, and Professor Pragashnie Naidoo (née Govender), who co-supervised the research through an interprofessional lens to enhance its impact.

Mazibuko thanked the College of Health Sciences and the School of Health Sciences at UKZN for their unwavering support and funding.

Words: MaryAnn Francis

Photograph: Sethu Dlamini