​​Doctoral Candidate Profiles

Edgar Agaba
Division Human Nutrition
PhD (Nutritional Sciences)​

Biography: Edgar Agaba is a public health professional from Uganda. He is currently pursuing a Ph.D. in Nutritional Sciences at Stellenbosch University and holds an MPH (Nutrition) from Tufts University and a Master of Science (PRH) from Makerere University. He has very extensive research experience in designing and managing research programs, coordination & partnership building. He is highly skilled in strategic information for maternal, and child health, and nutrition. His research interests are nutrition programming and effectiveness, nutrition governance, and monitoring and evaluation. 

Project Title: A framework for improving the effectiveness of integrated nutrition interventions in Uganda

Supervisors:

• Prof. Xikombiso Mbhenyane (PhD), Stellenbosch University, South Africa
• Prof. Per Ole Iversen (MD, PhD) University of Oslo, Norway
• Dr. Peter Rukundo, Kyambogo University, Uganda​​

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Joelaine Chetty
Division Human Nutrition
PhD (Nutritional Sciences)​

Biography: Joelaine is a Research Dietitian and Food Composition Database Compiler at the South African Medical Research Council (SAMRC) in Cape Town. She is part of the South African Food Data System (SAFOODS) team, located within the Biostatistics Research Unit of the SAMRC.  Her passion and interest in the scarce skillset of food composition was kickstarted within the SAMRC when she joined in the year 2000 and has grown a strong interest to indigenous food consumption. Joelaine now focuses on promoting the science of food composition and encourages responsible use of nutrient composition data. She holds a BSc Dietetics from University of the Western Cape (UWC) and Masters Public Health from University of Cape Town (UCT). She has presented food composition related research nationally and internationally, over her 16 years in the food composition related field.  

Project Title: Development of a nutrient database of selected and preserved African leafy vegetables

Supervisors:

• Prof Xikombiso Mbhenyane, Stellenbosch University, South Africa
• Dr Mthokozisi Zuma, Department of Agriculture, South Africa
• Dr Shonisani Ramashia, University of Venda, South Africa 
  

Publications associated with research (list):

• MAFOODS. 2019. Malawian Food Composition Table. 1st Edition. Cape Town: South African Medical Research Council. Editors: Van Graan AE, Chetty JM, Jumat MR, Masangwi S, Mwangwela A, Phiri FP, Ausman LM, Ghosh S, Marino-Costello E. ISBN: 978-1-928340-41-6
  
• SAFOODS. 2018. SAMRC Food Quantities Manual for South Africa. 3rd Edition. Cape Town: South African Medical Research Council. Editors: Van Graan AE, Chetty JM, Links MR, Wolmarans P. ISBN:978-1-928340-34-8

• SAFOODS. 2017. SAMRC Food Composition Tables for South Africa.  5th Edition. Cape Town: South African Medical Research Council. Editors: Van Graan AE, Chetty JM, Links MR.  ISBN: 978-1-928340-20-1​

Other publications/presentations:

• Chetty, J.M., Van Graan, A.E., Ramashia, S.E., Zuma, MK., Mbhenyane, X.G. 2024. Preserving Dietary Diversity: Plant-based Indigenous Vegetable Preservation Practices Among households in Vhembe, Limpopo province, South Africa. Oral presentation. Nutrition Congress October 2024. Durban 
• Chetty JM, Links MR, Van Graan AE. The importance of fostering public-private partnerships for an improved country-specific food composition database.  Oral presentation. International Conference in Dietetics. 1-3 September 2021. Cape Town, ICC.
• Chetty JM, Links MR, Van Graan AE. Gearing up our sodium data: A national food database for updating sodium, following policy call in South Africa. Poster presentation. International Conference in Dietetics. 1-3 September 2021. Cape Town, ICC
• Chetty JM, Links MR, Van Graan AE. Food labelling of mixed dishes – SAFOODS redeveloped recipe software tool.  Poster presentation. International Conference in Dietetics. 1-3 September 2021. Cape Town, ICC
• Chetty JM, Balakrishna Y, Links MR, Van Graan AE. Implications and outputs of historical recipe calculation method changes, across database versions. 13th International Food Data Conference. 14-18 October 2019. Lisbon, Portugal. Poster presentation, International congress.
• Chetty JM, Links MR, Van Graan AE. The process and impact of legislation on fat class changes to a South African food database. 13th International Food Data Conference. 14-18 October 2019. Lisbon, Portugal. Poster presentation, International congress.
• Chetty JM, Van Wyk E, Links MR, Van Graan AE. SAFOODS website: Using Google Analytics tool as an indicator for a South African food composition website data dissemination strategy. 13th International Food Data Conference. 14-18 October 2019. Lisbon, Portugal. Poster presentation, International congress.
• Van Graan AE, Chetty JM, Links MR, Masangwi S, Mangwela A, Ausman LM, Ghosh S, Marino-Costello E. A multi-country collaboration leads to the development and establishment of a country specific food composition database for Malawi. 13th International Food Data Conference. 14-18 October 2019. Lisbon, Portugal. Oral presentation, International congress.
• Chetty JM, Jumat MR, Van Graan AE. Updating milk and milk products data –from CoA to FCDB. The South African Food Composition Database process. Nutrition Congress. 5-7 September 2018. Johannesburg. Poster presentation, National congress.
• Chetty JM, Jumat MR, Van Graan AE. Process for updating the South African Food Composition Database – Experience from Meat group update. Nutrition Congress. 5-7 September 2018. Johannesburg. Poster presentation, National congress.
• Chetty JM, Van Wyk E, Van Graan AE. SAFOODS website: Advancing our national Food Composition Database, client communication and information dissemination. Nutrition Congress. 5-7 September 2018. Johannesburg. Poster presentation, National congress.
• Chetty JM, Van Graan AE, Links MR. Mwangela A, Masangwi S, Ghosh S, Marino-Costello E. Assisting an East African 'neighbour' in compiling a country-specific food composition database – a preliminary review from SAFOODS. 12th International Food Data Conference, Buenos Aires, Argentina. 11-13 October 2017.  Poster presentation, International congress. ​

Thembekile Dhlamini
Division of Human Nutrition
PhD (Nutritional Sciences)

Biography: Thembekile Dhlamini is a lecturer in Sefako Makgatho Health Sciences University, School of Healthcare Sciences, Department of Public Health. She is a director for the modules Introduction to Health Promotion and Health Education for Post Graduate Diploma in Public Health and Master of Public Health Programs. She also does research supervision for masters students, guiding and supporting them throughout their research journey and ensuring that students graduate within minimum prescribed period. She is the champion for Risk Management for Public Health Department and serve in the school of health sciences committee.   She is a researcher within the research chair in Food Environments, Nutrition and Health in the Department of Global Health, Division of Human Nutrition, Stellenbosch University. She holds a BSc Dietetics and Master of Public Health from Sefako Makgatho Health Sciences University. She further holds a communication degree in Journalism from Tshwane University of Technology.  She is pursuing her PhD Nutritional Sciences at Stellenbosch University within her interest to respond to how framework for integrating adaptation and mitigation strategies for sustainable food production, food, and nutrition security in response to climate change impacts be developed using shared learning involving stakeholders and communities of interest. 

Project Title:  Framework for integrating adaptation and mitigation strategies for sustainable food production, food and nutrition security in response to climate change impacts in South Africa. 

Supervisors: 

• Prof Xikombiso G Mbhenyane, Stellenbosch University, South Africa
• Prof Scott Drimie, Stellenbosch University, South Africa
• Dr Izidine Pinto, UCT, South Africa​

Publications/research outputs associated with PhD research:

• Dhlamini, T.S., Kuupiel, D., Mashamba-Thompson, T.P., 2019. Evidence on point-of-care diagnostics for assessment of nutritional biochemical markers as an integral part of maternal services in low- A nd middle-income countries: Systematic scoping review protocol 11 Medical and Health Sciences 1117 Public Health and Health Services. Systematic Reviews 8. doi:10.1186/s13643-018-0932-1.
• Tambe AB, Akeh ML, Tendongfor N, Dhlamini T, Chipili G, Mbhenyane X. The predictors of food security and dietary diversity among internally displaced persons' children (6–59 months) in Bamenda health district, Cameroon. Conflict and Health. 2023 Dec;17(1):1-1.​

Vhushavhelo Nedzingahe
Division Human Nutrition
PhD (Nutritional Sciences)​

Biography: Vhushavhelo Nedzingahe is a PhD candidate in Nutritional Sciences at Stellenbosch University. She is also a junior researcher in the Research Chair for Food Environment, Nutrition and Health at the same university. Her PhD research seeks to explore how plant-based diets can contribute to sustainable food environments and improve public health outcomes. She has an interest in public health, food systems, food environments, food security, plant-based diets and indigenous foods. Vhushavhelo holds a BSc in Nutrition and a Master's degree in Public Health Nutrition, focusing on the role of food systems and food environments in shaping food choices. She has worked as a research assistant at University of Western Cape in the National Dietary Intake Survey (NDIS) 2022 and at Sefako Makgatho Health Sciences University. Vhushavhelo’s work is motivated by the recognition that the prevalence of non-communicable diseases is sharply increasing in South Africa and diet is the number one causal factor.

Project Title: Development and validation of a strategy to promote the consumption of plant-based diets for South Africans. 

Supervisors: 

• Prof Xikombiso G. Mbhenyane, Stellenbosch University, South Africa
• Dr Nelene Koen, Stellenbosch University, South Africa
• Dr Mthokozisi Zuma , Department of Agriculture, South Africa​

Publications/research outputs associated with PhD research:

• Nedzingahe, V.; Tambe, B.A.; Zuma, M.K.; Mbhenyane, X.G. Associations among Food Systems, Food Environments, Food Choices, Food Security and Nutrition Transition in Adults in Limpopo Province, South Africa: A Cross-Sectional Study. Preprints.org 2023, 2023050883. https://doi.org/10.20944/preprints202305.0883.v1
• Nedzingahe, V.; Tambe, B.A.; Zuma, M.K.; Mbhenyane, X.G. Associations among Food Systems, Food environments, Food choices, Food Security, and Nutrition Transition in Limpopo province, South Africa: A Cross Sectional Study. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health 2023, 20, 6557. https://doi.org10.3390/ijerph20166557​

Zoe Nomakhushe Nxusani
Division of Human Nutrition
PhD (Nutritional Sciences)​

Biography: Nomakhushe is a PhD student with interest in promotion of the utilization of indigenous foods for improved health outcomes. Her career background is research assistant in the Research Chair in Food Environments, Nutrition, and Health, lecturing in the Education department, Post Graduate Certificate in Education (PGCE: SP/FET), and Diploma in Technical and Vocational Education and Training Teaching (ADTVT) programs focusing on Consumer and Hospitality studies.  Prior to enrolling at Stellenbosch University, she worked as a Lecturer at Walter Sisulu University (WSU) in the Department of Consumer Sciences: Food and Nutrition. She holds a Master's degree in Public Health from the University of the Western Cape. She also holds a Postgraduate Diploma in Higher Education (PGDipHE) from Rhodes University to develop her teaching competence. Her research areas of interest are Indigenous Foods, Food and Nutrition security, Food Safety, and Food Quality Systems. 

Project Title: A framework for promotion of the utilization of indigenous foods for improved health outcomes in the Eastern Cape, South Africa. 

Supervisors: 

• Prof Xikombiso Mbhenyane, Stellenbosch University, South Africa
• Dr Mthokozisi Zuma, Department of Agriculture, South Africa ​

Publications/research outputs associated with PhD research:

• Nxusani, Zoe Nomakhushe, Mthokozisi Kwazi Zuma, and Xikombiso Gertrude Mbhenyane. 2023. "A Systematic Review of Indigenous Food Plant Usage in Southern Africa" Sustainability 15, no. 11: 8799. https://doi.org/10.3390/su15118799. 

Conference:

• ​Zoe Nomakhushe Nxusani, Indigenous food plants knowledge, perceptions, accessibility and consumption in South Africa, Oral presentation. World Public Health Nutrition Congress 2024, 10 – 13, 2024, London UK, University of Westminster.

Matjie Rapetsoa
Division of Human Nutrition
PhD (Nutritional Sciences) 

Biography: I am a Registered Dietitian and a Community Nutrition lecturer at the University of Limpopo. I hold a B. Nutrition degree from the University of the North (now University of Limpopo) and an MSc (Public Nutrition) from the University of Venda(UNIVEN). I worked for the Department of Health as a Hospital Dietitian and at a District office as a manager of nutrition services. My tenure at the Department of Health allowed me to experience the process of planning and delivering nutrition services, from policies down to communities, households, and individuals across various populations and groups.  In my current position, I interact with students most of the time and I am always keen on knowing what they eat and how they procure the food. This evoked my interest in food environments, food security, and the prevention of Non-Communicable Diseases (NCDs). I was also afforded an opportunity by the Registrar at my institution, to manage a lunch meal project for needy students in the past years. This opened my eyes to the reality and extent of the plight of some of the students at tertiary institutions and to this day, I still value that experience a great deal.   I am a member of the Association for Dietetics in South Africa (ADSA) and served at the executive and branch levels.

Project Title: Developing a framework for healthy food choices among young adults at tertiary institutions. 

Supervisors: 

• Prof Xikombiso Mbhenyane, Stellenbosch University, South Africa
• Prof S Govender, University of Limpopo, South Africa
• Dr Lynette Daniels, Stellenbosch University, South Africa
• Dr BT Ayuk, Stellenbosch University, South Africa and University of Buea, Cameroon​
  
  

Esmarie Van Tonder
Division of Human Nutrition
PhD (Nutritional Sciences)

Biography: Esmarie van Tonder is a lecturer in Therapeutic Nutrition at the Department of Human Nutrition and Dietetics at the Faculty of Health Sciences, Nelson Mandela University. She holds a BSc in Dietetics and a Master of Nutrition, both at Stellenbosch University. With over a decade of experience in both undergraduate and postgraduate teaching, her research interests focus on malnutrition in hospitalised adults, inter-professional patient care, and the intersection of human rights and nutrition. Before transitioning to academia, Esmarie gained extensive clinical experience as a dietitian in South Africa and spent ten years with the NHS in England. Her diverse experience spans oncology, surgery, critical care, cystic fibrosis, nutrition support, internal medicine, and general outpatient care. 

Project Title: Validation of body composition markers to diagnose malnutrition in adult hospitalised patients.

Supervisors: 

• Prof Renée Blaauw, Stellenbosch University, South Africa
• Prof Friede Wenhold, University of Pretoria, South Africa​

Publications/research outputs associated with PhD research:

• Van Tonder E, Kelly A, and Van Rooyen R.M., 2021.  Views of public hospital professional nurses on adult malnutrition and their role in nutrition-related activities, IJANS [online] https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijans.2021. 
• Van Tonder E. & Dihawa N., 2019. BMI-based figure rating scale (FRS) as an adjunctive aid in nutritional screening and assessment in a resource limited setting. South Afr J Clin Nut. [Online]. https://doi.org/10.1080/16070658.2019.1679943 
• Van Tonder E., Mace L., Steenkamp S., Tydeman-Edwards R., Gerber K. and  Friskin D,  2019. Mid-upper arm circumference (MUAC) as a feasible tool in detecting adult malnutrition. South Afr J Clin Nut. 32:4, 93-98, DOI: 10.1080/16070658.2018.1484622 
• Van Tonder E., Gardner L., Cressey S., Tydeman-Edwards R. and Gerber K., 2018. Adult malnutrition: prevalence and use of nutrition-related quality indicators in South African public-sector hospitals. South Afr J Clin Nut. [Online]. Available: https://doi.org/10.1080/16070658.2017.1410003 
• Steenkamp L, Truter I, Williams M,  Goosen A,  Oxley I ,  Van Tonder E,  Kock S and Venter DJL, 2017. Nutritional status and metabolic risk in HIV-infected university students:challenges in their monitoring and management. S Afr Fam Pract. 59 (1):9 –13. [Online]. Available: http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/20786190.2016.1248143 
• Van Tonder E, Herselman MG, Visser J (2009) The Prevalence of dietary-related complementary and alternative therapies and their perceived usefulness among cancer patients. J. Hum. Nutr. Diet. 22 (6) 528 – 535. [Online]. Available: https:// DOI: 10.1111/j.1365-277X.2009.00986.x​

Lizl Veldsman (Schafer)
Division of Human Nutrition
PhD (Nutritional Sciences)​

Biography:  Lizl graduated from the University of Stellenbosch with a BSc in Dietetics and Masters of Nutrition (cum laude) in 2007 and 2013 respectively.  She completed her community service in Rustenburg and spent 8 years at Charlotte Maxeke Johannesburg Academic Hospital where she worked in the multidisciplinary ICU and gastrointestinal surgery unit. During this time she also fulfilled her role as Secretary of the Johannnesburg branch of the Critical Care Society of Southern Africa (CCSSA) and served as council member of the South African Society for Parenteral and Enteral Nutrition (SASPEN). She moved to Cape Town with her family in 2017 and, after briefly working as a research assistant at the Human Nutrition division of the University of Stellenbosch, she started full-time at Tygerberg Hospital (TBH) in 2018, where she currently works in the Surgical ICU and ward. Her key research interest is the role of protein delivery in the ICU. She is a past President of SASPEN and previously served as allied health representative on the CCSSA council. 

Project Title: The effect of combined intravenous, bolus amino acid supplementation and mobilisation on skeletal muscle during the acute phase of critical illness: a randomised controlled trial.

Supervisors: 

• Prof Renée Blaauw, Stellenbosch University, South Africa
• Prof Guy Richards, Emeritus Professor of Critical Care and Pulmonology at Wits University, and Charlotte Maxeke Johannesburg Academic Hospital, South Africa​

Publications/research outputs associated with PhD research:

• Veldsman L, Richards GA, Blaauw R. The dilemma of protein delivery in the intensive care unit. Nutr 2016; 32 (9): 985 - 988
• Veldsman L, Lupton-Smith A, Richards GA, Blaauw R. Bedside ultrasound: a reliable tool to assess musculoskeletal quantity and quality in critical illness. South Afr J Crit Care. 2022; 38(3): 120–121.  Research abstract presented at the SASPEN/CCSSA Congress, Johannesburg, South Africa, September 2022
• Veldsman L, Richards GA, Lombard C, Blaauw R. Measured energy expenditure in the acute phase of critical illness: a prospective study undertaken in an adult surgical ICU. South Afr J Crit Care. 2023; 39(3): 2–3. Research abstract presented at the SASPEN/CCSSA Congress 2023, Port Elizabeth, South Africa, October 2023.​

Ronel Beukes
Division of Human Nutrition
PhD (Nutritional Sciences) (Preparatory phase) 

Biography: After obtaining my Masters in Nutrition from Stellenbosch University in the early 2000s I took a break from research to attend to family responsibilities. During this time, I had the privilege to work in a part time capacity with the Community Nutrition team in the Division of Human Nutrition at Stellenbosch University. In 2021, I was appointed in a full-time permanent position as a lecturer in the field of Community Nutrition. Health Professions Education has always been a field of interest of mine, and in recent years I went out of my way to attend any lunch hour meeting or short course on this topic. Slowly but surely the seed started to germinate up to the point where I could not ignore it any longer and I took the bold step to voice my thoughts in a safe space at first, and then with a potential study leader – I wanted to study further and combine the fields of Health Professions Education and Nutrition. I registered for the pre-doctoral year and this is where I am now, busy preparing my proposal. 

Project Title: From Registered Dietitian to Registered Dietitian Nutritionist in South Africa. 

Supervisors: 

• Prof Evette van Niekerk, Stellenbosch University, South Africa
• Dr Marianne Bester, Stellenbosch University, South Africa