Thandokazi Mvelashe

[NSTF🇿🇦 @NSTF_SA]

Congratulations to Prof Shahida Moosa, on her extraordinary achievement as a finalist for the NSTF-SAMRC Clinician-Scientist Award of the prestigious NSTF-South32 Awards – the Science Oscars of South Africa (SA). The Awards recognise outstanding contributions to #science, #engineering, #technology (SET) and #innovation in SA since 1998.
She is the Head of Medical Genetics at Tygerberg Hospital and Professor of Medical Genetics at @StellenboschUni; and also in the TW-Kamule-NSTF Emerging Researcher category. *

Genomics for Health in Africa is a first of its kind in sub-Saharan Africa, and is revolutionising clinical genomics and precision medicine on the continent. The project aims to provide diagnoses to the 100 million Africans living with undiagnosed rare diseases and familial cancers. The programme’s motto is “Until every African with a Rare Disease and Cancer is diagnosed”. Using the latest in genomic technology, coupled with outstanding clinical and bioinformatic expertise and novel AI-tools, GHA has thus far been able to diagnose more than half of the participants enrolled, many of whom are the first in Africa with their diagnoses. GHA aims to leave no-one behind, extends its impact from bedside to laboratory and back again, and provides increased access to needed genomic testing to underserved and underrepresented African populations from South Africa to Rwanda and beyond.

See the list of all finalists who are contending as finalists for the best contributions to SET and innovation in SA under 16 different categories: https://t.co/TDNOjbQ0J8

@South32 @SAMRC #NSTFawards2025 #scienceoscars #research #scientificresearch #development #KnowledgeBasedEconomy #sciencerolemodels #scienceexcellence #socioeconomicgrowth

[Thandokazi Mvelashe @MvelasheT]

Bring our soldiers back home, Cyril !

[Paul Kagame @PaulKagame]

I held two conversations this week with President Ramaphosa on the situation in Eastern DRC, including earlier today. What has been said about these conversations in the media by South African officials and President Ramaphosa himself contains a lot of distortion, deliberate attacks, and even lies. If words can change so much from a conversation to a public statement, it says a lot about how these very important issues are being managed.

A few important clarifications for the record:

1. The Rwanda Defence Force is an army, not a militia.

2. SAMIDRC is not a peacekeeping force, and it has no place in this situation. It was authorized by SADC as a belligerent force engaging in offensive combat operations to help the DRC Government fight against its own people, working alongside genocidal armed groups like FDLR which target Rwanda, while also threatening to take the war to Rwanda itself.

3. SAMIDRC displaced a true peacekeeping force, the East African Community Regional Force, and this contributed to the failure of the negotiation processes.

4. President Ramaphosa has never given a "warning" of any kind, unless it was delivered in his local language which I do not understand. He did ask for support to ensure the South African force has adequate electricity, food and water, which we shall help communicate.

5. President Ramaphosa confirmed to me that M23 did not kill the soldiers from South Africa, FARDC did.

6. If South Africa wants to contribute to peaceful solutions, that is well and good, but South Africa is in no position to take on the role of a peacemaker or mediator. And if South Africa prefers confrontation, Rwanda will deal with the matter in that context any day.

[Paul Kagame @PaulKagame]

I held two conversations this week with President Ramaphosa on the situation in Eastern DRC, including earlier today. What has been said about these conversations in the media by South African officials and President Ramaphosa himself contains a lot of distortion, deliberate attacks, and even lies. If words can change so much from a conversation to a public statement, it says a lot about how these very important issues are being managed.

A few important clarifications for the record:

1. The Rwanda Defence Force is an army, not a militia.

2. SAMIDRC is not a peacekeeping force, and it has no place in this situation. It was authorized by SADC as a belligerent force engaging in offensive combat operations to help the DRC Government fight against its own people, working alongside genocidal armed groups like FDLR which target Rwanda, while also threatening to take the war to Rwanda itself.

3. SAMIDRC displaced a true peacekeeping force, the East African Community Regional Force, and this contributed to the failure of the negotiation processes.

4. President Ramaphosa has never given a "warning" of any kind, unless it was delivered in his local language which I do not understand. He did ask for support to ensure the South African force has adequate electricity, food and water, which we shall help communicate.

5. President Ramaphosa confirmed to me that M23 did not kill the soldiers from South Africa, FARDC did.

6. If South Africa wants to contribute to peaceful solutions, that is well and good, but South Africa is in no position to take on the role of a peacemaker or mediator. And if South Africa prefers confrontation, Rwanda will deal with the matter in that context any day.

[RareDiseaseGenomicsRSA @RareGenomicsRSA]

#RareDiseaseMonth2025 [15/02/2025]
Join us for an evening of music, dance & art to support #RareDisease
"Rare Talent for Rare Disease" concert featuring @cjbcompany, https://t.co/HlByLH2CES, SU wind band, Gerhard Joubert, Jason Marshall & others!
Tickets: https://t.co/Ya3WgDYG7x

[RareDiseaseGenomicsRSA @RareGenomicsRSA]

🥳 We are very happy to have won the @StellenboschUni Societal Impact Team award for 2024!

Thanks to everyone for supporting our awareness raising campaigns -

"Until every #African with a #RareDisease is diagnosed... and beyond!"
@SUhealthsci @SuMBHG @MatiesResearch

[Shahida Moosa #StopTheGenocide @shahida_moosa]

@VFSGlobal DO NOT remove your hijab, there is no reason, pics are perfectly valid/legal with hijab. Supervisor Priscilla confirmed I was correct. There are guidelines published outside. If they are not sufficiently trained, they should not be left unsupervised. Shame on you @VFSGlobal 2/2

[Shahida Moosa #StopTheGenocide @shahida_moosa]

Attention #hijabis: do NOT be intimidated by @VFSGlobal #SwissVisa in Cape Town-Lusanda tried to humiliate me,insisting I needed to show my ears for the pic.We live in RSA,our constitution guarantees our rights.She is untrained,misinformed&arrogant. 1/2

[Division of Molecular Biology and Human Genetics @SuMBHG]

🌟 Exciting Opportunity! 🌟

Join our fully online short course 🧬 Introduction to Clinical Genetics 🧬 from 2 Sep-25 Oct 2024

Gain valuable insights & earn a certificate of competence, along with ethics & clinical CPD points upon completion. Apply at https://t.co/pcxNB5Gzbv

[SU, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences @SUhealthsci]

Prof @shahida_moosa – Head of Medical Genetics in our faculty, and the sole non-German researcher in a landmark multi-centre study – played a notable role in successfully diagnosing 499 patients and identifying 34 new genetic diseases.

READ MORE here: https://t.co/iijbMKBHQZ.

[Shahida Moosa #StopTheGenocide @shahida_moosa]

📢🎉Deadline fast approaching! We are looking for a postdoc to spearhead our #AfricaEuropeCoRE Genomics for Health in Africa - #RareDiseases #Cancer

#postdoc
@CoRE_GHA @MatiesResearch @PostdocSU @UWCBIOTECH @RUBi_news @ULvarsity @ARDI_Africa @ifan_cheikhanta @BaylorBotswana

[RareDiseaseGenomicsRSA @RareGenomicsRSA]

Happy birthday to little C - she is so sweet and so clever! 🥳😍🥰
Everything of the best for you and your wonderful mom @MvelasheT

[Thandokazi Mvelashe @MvelasheT]

@RareGenomicsRSA ❤️❤️

[Shahida Moosa #StopTheGenocide @shahida_moosa]

Pls RT
We have a #postdoc fellowship within the #GenomicsForHealthInAfrica #AfricaEuropeCoRE
Come and make an impact on the millions of Africans living with #RareDiseases and #Cancer
The @RareGenomicsRSA team is amazing, as are all our collaborators in the MAGIC lab in the #BMRI

[RareDiseaseGenomicsRSA @RareGenomicsRSA]

#29DaysOfRare
Joh, Prof @shahida_moosa - you're a proper celeb😍

#RareDiseases in the mainstream media - this is what we like to see!
More access, equity, education and awareness
@SUhealthsci @SuMBHG

[RareDiseaseGenomicsRSA @RareGenomicsRSA]

#29DaysOfRare
Our Wednesday Sandwich drive was in full swing today!
The team was on a mission and boy did we deliver.
Families so grateful for the sandwiches, not an empty tummy in the clinic😊
Extra ❤️💛💚💙💜 for today!
@SuMBHG @SUhealthsci

[RareDiseaseGenomicsRSA @RareGenomicsRSA]

#InternationalEpilepsyDay
We dressed in purple today to support all those affected by #Epilepsy
more #Education less #Stigma @SUhealthsci @SuMBHG

[RareDiseaseGenomicsRSA @RareGenomicsRSA]

#29DaysOfRare
You have 29 days, yes, not 28, #29DaysOfRare to enter our raffle and win awesome prizes!
Who wouldn't want a whole caramel chocolate cake 🎂, delivered when you'd like it, from Cups&Saucers?
Or a cute #RareBear? 🧸
Enter NOW!💫

[Division of Molecular Biology and Human Genetics @SuMBHG]

#CupcakeSale 🧁

Support the @RareGenomicsRSA team for their #RareDiseaseAwarenessMonth initiative. #TreatYoself every Friday with a delicious & informative sweet treat 🌈

All proceeds raise will go towards the #RareBear fund to support #RareWarriors on their journey 🧸

[RareDiseaseGenomicsRSA @RareGenomicsRSA]

#28DaysOfRare
And, we're off! #RareDisease Awareness month has officially started!
#WatchThisSpace for all our activities throughout the month - and for our celebrations on 29.02 #RareDiseaseDay
Follow us on instagram @raredgsa for updates
@SUhealthsci @SuMBHG @shahida_moosa

[RareDiseaseGenomicsRSA @RareGenomicsRSA]

#29DaysOfRare
Support our clothing and nappy drive!
- drop off at Cups and Saucers coffee shop
- contact us to meet & collect (@jessica_cormick and @MvelasheT) or DM us on insta!