​​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​


Mr. Alpheus “Alpha” Rasekhala
Division of Human Nutrition
PhD in Nutritional Science

Biography: Alpheus “Alpha" Rasekhala is owner and private practicing registered dietitian at Alpha Rasekhala and Associates registered dietitians at Life Healthcare and Clinix health groups. He holds a Bachelor of Human Nutrition degree from University of the North now called University of Limpopo and Master of Science in Dietetics from North-West University.  He is a fully integrated allrounder dietetics and nutrition professional.  He has experience in varied employment environments that have allowed him to gain valuable experience in public health nutrition, food and nutrition security, sustainable food systems, human resource management, nutrition education, critical care, food services management, business development, sales, and marketing.  He has served in various portfolios on the Executive Councils of ADSA (Association for Dietetics in South Africa) and South African Society for Parenteral and Enteral Nutrition (SASPEN). Lastly, he has served as a member of the Professional Board of Dietetics and Nutrition at the Health Professions Council of South Africa (HPCSA) for two terms. 

Supervisors: Prof Xikombiso Mbhenyane, Prof Renee Blaauw and Prof Nico Martins (UNISA)

Research Title: The development of guidelines to manage Burnout and Stress of dietitians and nutritionist in the workplace

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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, Dr Mthokozisi Zuma, Dr Shonisani Ramashia (University of Venda) 

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 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. 


Ms 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 has obtained both her BSc Dietetics degree and Master of Nutrition at Stellenbosch University. Esmarie has been involved in under- and postgraduate teaching for the past eight years and her research areas of interest include malnutrition in the adult hospitalised patient, inter-professional patient care and nutrition support.  Prior to starting her career in the academic field, Esmarie has gained extensive experience as a clinical dietitian, both in South Africa, as well as the NHS in England, where she worked for ten years. This included experience in oncology, surgery, critical care, cystic fibrosis, nutrition support, internal medicine and general out-patients.

Research motto: “Find the problem you were born to solve and pursue it with all you have" (Myles Munroe) 

Supervisors: Prof Renee Blaauw and Prof Friede Wenhold

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

Publications associated with research:

  1. 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. 
  2. 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 
  3. 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 
  4. 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 
  5. 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 
  6. 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


Ms 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. Her key research interest is the role of protein delivery in reducing muscle loss in the ICU. She is the immediate past President of SASPEN and a council member of the CCSSA.

Supervisors: Prof Renee Blaauw (S, Human Nutrition, Stellenbosch university), Prof Guy Richards (Emeritus Professor of Critical Care and Pulmonology at Wits University and Charlotte Maxeke Johannesburg Academic Hospital)

Research 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

Publications associated with research:

  • Veldsman L, Richards GA, Blaauw R. The dilemma of protein delivery in the intensive care unit. Nutr 2016; 32 (9): 985 - 988
  • Schäfer L, Templin K, Dlamini P, Kruger JM, van Wyk E. Osmolality of modified enteral tube feeds for adults in hospitals across the Western Cape Province. S Afr J Clin Nutr 2009; 22 (2): 81 – 87


Marwyn Sowden
Division of Human Nutrition
PhD Nutritional Sciences​

Biography: Mrs Marwyn Sowden previously worked at NICUS and the MRC. Thereafter she did consultation work as well as part-time lecturing at Stellenbosch University, University of Cape Town, University of the Western Cape and Tiervlei Trial Centre. She is well known as a clinical dietician and assists at various private hospitals as a locum. She is pursuing a dual PhD in Nutritional Sciences at Stellenbosch University and University of Amsterdam and holds a M in Nutrition and a BSc in Dietetics both from Stellenbosch University. Her research passion lies in the area of paediatric nutrition. 

Project Title: The role of a Multi-strain Probiotic in Very Low Birth Weight Premature Infants 

Supervisors:

Supervisor: Dr Evette van Niekerk
Faculty of Health Sciences, Stellenbosch University

Co-supervisor: Prof Mirjam van Weissenbruch & Dr Andre Bulabula
University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam; Faculty of Health Sciences, Stellenbosch University 

Publications associated with research (list):

  1. Factors influencing high socio-economic class mothers' decision regarding formula feeding practices in the Cape Metropole. M Sowden, D Marais, R Beukes. Published in the South African Journal of Clinical Nutrition.
  2. Health-promoting schools as a service learning platform for teaching health-promotion skills. LM du Plessis, HE Koornhof, LC Daniels, M Sowden, R Adams. Published in AJHPE 2014.
  3. Nutrition related knowledge and practices of hypertensive adults attending Hypertensive Clinics at Day Hospitals in the Cape Metropole.  H Becker, M Bester, N Reyneke, D Labadarios, KD Monyeki, NP Steyn. Published in Curationis 2004.​


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

Biography: Nomakhushe is a PhD student with interest in promotion of indigenous foods. Prior to enrolling at Stellenbosch University, we worked as a Lecturer at Walter Sisulu University (WSU) in the Department of Consumer Sciences: Food and Nutrition. She holds a Masters' 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 interests are indigenous foods, food security and food safety. 

Supervisors: Prof Xikombiso Mbhenyane and Dr. Mthokozisi Zuma

Research Title: A Framework for Promotion of the Utilization of Indigenous Foods for Improved Health Outcomes in the Eastern Cape, South Africa


Thembekile Dhlamini
Division of Human Nutrition
PhD in (Nutritional Science)​

Biography: Thembekile Dhlamini is a lecturer and researcher within the research chair in Food Environments, Nutrition and Health in the Department of Global Health, Division of Human Nutrition; Stellenbosch University. She is responsible for teaching and learning in undergraduate and postgraduate studies. 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.

Supervisors: Prof Xikombiso G Mbhenyane, Prof Scott Drimie and Dr Izidine Pinto (UCT).

Research 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.

Publications associated with 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.

Vhushavhelo Nedzingahe
Division Human Nutrition
PhD (Nutritional Sciences)​

Biography: Ms Vhushavhelo Nedzingahe is a Junior Researcher in the Research Chair for Food Environment, Nutrition and Health in the Division of Human Nutrition, Stellenbosch University. She has worked for University of Western Cape in the National Dietary Intake Survey (NDIS) 2022 and at Sefako Makgatho Health Sciences University as a research assistant.  She is pursuing a PhD in Nutritional Sciences at Stellenbosch University and holds an MSc in Public Health and Nutrition from the same university. Her research interests are in community nutrition, indigenous foods, food environments, food systems, food security and food choices. 

Project Title: Development of a guideline to integrate indigenous knowledge on food systems and food choices in Limpopo, KwaZulu-Natal and North-West provinces, South Africa 

Supervisors: Prof Xikombiso G. Mbhenyane and Dr Mthokozisi K. Zuma​



Ms Vanessa Mbhatsani
Division of Human Nutrition
PhD Nutritional Sciences

 

Biography: Vanessa is a lecturer of Nutrition at the University of Venda. She received both her undergraduate BSc and MSc in Public Nutrition from the University of Venda. To enhance her teaching responsibilities, she persuaded a post graduate diploma in higher education at Rhodes University.  Ms Mbhatsani's research areas of interest include micronutrient, role of indigenous foods in health and nutrition, child nutrition and food security.

Supervisors: Prof Xikombiso Mbhenyane

Research Title: A model for the promotion of locally available foods and micronutrients status of primary school children

Publications associated with research:

  1. HV Mbhatsani, XG Mbhenyane & Makuse SHM. Knowledge and consumption of indigenous food by primary school children in Vhembe District in Limpopo Province. Indilinga African Journal of Indigenous Knowledge Systems : African Indigenous Knowledge Systems Facing the Future, Vol 10, Issue 2, Dec 2011, 210-227
  2. Mbhatsani, HV, Mbhenyane XG and Mabapa NS. "Development and Implementation of Nutrition Education on Dietary Diversification for Primary School Children." Ecology of Food and Nutrition 56, no. 6 (2017): 449-461.3.
  3. Mandiwana TC, Mushaphi LF, Mbhatsani HV & Mbhenyane XG. Traditional infant feeding practices in Vhembe district, Limpopo Province. AJPHERD 2011.
  4. Motadi SA, Mbhenyane XG, Mbhatsani HV, Mabapa NS, & Mamabolo RL, Prevalence of Iron and Zinc deficiencies among preschool children aged 3-5 years in Vhembe district, Limpopo province, South Africa.  Accepted: September 9, 2014; Published Online: October 20, 2014
  5. Motadi SA, Mbhatsani V and Shilote K. Food fortification knowledge in women of child-bearing age at Nkowankowa Township in Mopani district, Limpopo Province, South Africa. Afr J Prm Health Care Fam Med. Accepted: March 12, 2016; Published Online: 29 July 2016
  6. Motadi SA, Phalanndwa T, Masia TA, Mabapa NS, Mbhatsani HV, Mushaphi LF and Mbhenyane XG. Food labels of different food manufactures in South Africa: Are they complying with health regulation? AJPHERD, Supplementary 1:2 December 2015
  7. Mbhenyane XG, Seanego AM, Amey AKA, Mabapa NS, Mushaphi LF, Mbhatsani HV and Mandiwana TC. Dietary patterns and BMI status of adult women of greater Letaba municipality, South Africa, Journal of consumer science. Special edition. Food and nutrition challenges in Southern Africa. AJOL: Vol 2:2017

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Mrs Janicke Visser
Division of Human Nutrition
PhD (Nutritional Sciences)

Biography: Janicke Visser (Registered Dietitian) is a Senior Lecturer in Therapeutic Nutrition and Postgraduate Programme Coordinator at the Division of Human Nutrition, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Stellenbosch University. She obtained both her BSc Dietetics degree and Master of Nutrition (Research) degree from Stellenbosch University and is currently undertaking her PhD studies. She is a Past President of SASPEN (South African Society for Parenteral and Enteral Nutrition) and has served in various portfolios on the Executive Councils of SASPEN and ADSA (Association for Dietetics in South Africa). She is the Regional Co-Editor of The International Journal of Applied and Basic Nutritional Sciences (NUTRITION) and the Editorial Coordinator of the South African Journal of Clinical Nutrition (SAJCN). She has been involved in under- and postgraduate teaching and research for more than 20 years. Her key research interests include Hospital Malnutrition, Oncology Nutrition, Micronutrients, Infectious Diseases and Evidence Based Methodologies. 

Project Title: Addressing Malnutrition in Hospitalised Adults: a (South) African Perspective 

Supervisors: Prof R Blaauw and Prof T Cederholm 

Publications / research outputs associated with research:

  1. Oral Presentation: Visser J. Hospital malnutrition – where are we now, and where to from here? ENASA / SASPEN / HDIG Webinar, 8 December 2021.
  2. Oral Presentation: Visser J. Hospital malnutrition – are we winning the battle? Nutrition Congress, 3-5 September 2016, Somerset West, South Africa.
  3. Poster Presentation: Blaauw R, Achar E, Dolman R, Harbron J, Moens M, Munyi F, Nel DG, Nyatefe D, Visser J. Hospital malnutrition on the African continent: We have a problem. 39th ESPEN Congress, 9-12 September 2017, The Hague, Netherlands. 

Other Publications (last 5 years)

  1. Stevenson C, Blaauw R, Fredericks E, Visser J, Roux S. Probiotic effect and dietary correlations on faecal microbiota profiles in irritable bowel syndrome, S Afr J Clin Nutr 2021; 34:3, 84-89, DOI: 10.1080/16070658.2019.1697038.
  2. Robertson NU, Schoonees A, Brand A, Visser J. Pine bark (Pinus spp.) extract for treating chronic disorders. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews 2020, Issue 9. Art. No.: CD008294. DOI: 10.1002/14651858.CD008294.pub5.
  3. Blaauw R, Achar E, Dolman RC, Harbron J, Moens M, Munyi F, Nyatefe D, Visser J. The Problem of Hospital Malnutrition in the African Continent. Nutrients 2019; 11(9). pii: E2028. doi: 10.3390/nu11092028.
  4. Visser J, Knight K, Philips L, Visser W, Wallace M, Nel DG, Blaauw R. Determinants of serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D levels in healthy young adults living in the Western Cape, South Africa. South African Family Practice 2019, 61:4, 150-158, DOI: 10.1080/20786190.2019.1621047.
  5. Blaauw R, Osland E, Sriram K, Ali A, Allard JP, Ball P, Chan LN, Jurewitsch B, Coughlin KL, Manzanares W, Menéndez AM, Mutiara R, Rosenfeld R, Sioson M, Visser J, Berger MM. Parenteral Provision of Micronutrients to Adult Patients: An Expert Consensus Paper. JPEN Parenter Enteral Nutr 2019; 43(1): S5–S23. DOI: 10.1002/jpen.1525.
  6. Visser J, McLachlan MH, Maayan N, Garner P. Community-based supplementary feeding for food insecure, vulnerable and malnourished populations - an overview of systematic reviews. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews 2018, Issue 11. Art. No.: CD010578. DOI: 10.1002/14651858.CD010578.pub2.
  7. Padayachee M, Visser J, Viljoen E, Musekiwa A, Blaauw R. Efficacy and safety of Saccharomyces boulardii in the treatment of acute gastroenteritis in the pediatric population: A systematic review. S Afr J Clin Nutr 2019; 32:3: 58-69, DOI: 10.1080/16070658.2018.1449378.
  8. Schiever JF, Visser J, Van der Merwe M, Nel DG: Evaluation of nutrition care to adult patients on HAART attending primary healthcare facilities in Mpumalanga. S Afr J Clin Nutr 2019; 32:1, 13-20, DOI: 10.1080/16070658.2017.1412183.
  9. Blaauw R, Daniels L, Du Plessis LM, Koen N, Koornhof HE, Marais ML, Van Niekerk E, Visser J. Assessing the utilization of a child health monitoring tool. S Afr J Child Health 2017;11(4):174-179. DOI:10.7196/SAJCH.2017.v11i4.1326.
  10. Koen N, Nel DG, Philips L, Potgieter S, Smit Y, Van Niekerk E, Visser J. Staff and Student Health and Wellness at the Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Stellenbosch University: Current status and needs assessment. South African Family Practice 2018; 60:3, 84-90, DOI: 10.1080/20786190.2017.1396788.
  11. Philips L, Visser J, Nel DG, Blaauw R. The association between tuberculosis and the development of insulin resistance in adults with pulmonary tuberculosis in the Western sub-district of the Cape Metropole region, South Africa: a combined cross-sectional, cohort study. BMC Infectious Diseases 2017; 17:570. DOI 10.1186/s12879-017-2657-5.
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Mr Selekane Ananius Motadi
Division of Human Nutrition
PhD Nutritional Sciences

 

Biography: Selekane is a Lecturer at the University of Venda. He is a Registered Nutritionist with Health Professional Council of South Africa. His area of interest is public health nutrition with a focus on child nutrition and micronutrients.

Supervisors: Prof Xikombiso Mbhenyane and Prof Jeanne Freeland-Graves (University of Austin, Texas)

Research Title: Efficacy of Cucurbita moschata (Butternut) seeds consumption in the management of iron and zinc deficiency in preschool children aged 3-5 years in the Vhembe district, South Africa.

Publications associated with research:

  1. Selekane Ananias Motadi, Xikombiso G. Mbhenyane, Hlekani V. Mbhatsani, Ngoako S. Mabapa, Ramoteme L. Mamabolo. Prevalence of iron and zinc deficiencies among preschool children ages 3 to 5 y in Vhembe district, Limpopo province, South Africa.  Nutrition, March 2015, Volume 31, No 3.
  2. Motadi S.A., Phalanndwa T., Masia T.A., Mabapa N.S., Mbhatsani H.V., Mushaphi L.F., Mbhenyani X.G. (2015). Food labels of different food manufacturers in South Africa: are they complying with the regulation. Journal for Physical, Health education, recreation and Dance, December (supplement 1:2), 291-302.
  3. Selekane A Motadi, Vanessa Mbhatsani and Kulani Shilote, Food fortification knowledge in women of child-bearing age at Nkowankowa Township in Mopani district, Limpopo Province, South Africa. Afr J Prm Health Care Fam Med. Accepted: March 12, 2016; Published Online: 29 July 2016.
  4. Mkhawani K, Motadi SA, Mabapa NS, Mbhenyane XG, Blaauw R. effects of rising food price on household food security on female headed households in Runnymede village, Mopani District, South Africa. South African Journal of Clinical Nutrition; 2016 29(2): 1-6. 
  5. Motadi SA, Malise T, Mushaphi LF. Breastfeeding knowledge and practices among mothers of children younger than 2 years from a rural area in the Limpopo province, South Africa. South African Journal of Child Health. 2019 Sep;13(3):115-9. 
  6. Motadi SA, Matsa Z, Mogane PH, Masidwali P, Makwarela M, Mushaphi L. Assessment of Nutritional Status and Dietary Intake of Pregnant Women in Rural Area of Vhembe District, Limpopo Province. Ecology of food and nutrition. 2019 Nov 22:1-4.


Yolande Smit
Division of Human Nutrition
PhD in Nutritional Sciences​

Biography: Yolande Smit is a registered dietitian and lecturer at the Division of Human Nutrition at Stellenbosch University since 2012. She obtained her BSc Dietetics and Master of Nutrition degrees from Stellenbosch University.

She coordinates and teaches various undergraduate modules and is also involved in undergraduate research and post graduate supervision. She is a registered PhD candidate (2020) focusing on the nutrition environments at child day care centres to improve standardisation and implementation of meal provision guidelines at ECD centres.

Besides teaching and learning other fields of interest are food service management, consumer behaviour and childhood nutrition.

Supervisors: Prof LM du Plessis and R Perez-Escamilla

Research Title: An exploration of the elements needed to support a healthy food environment at Early Childhood Development Centers in the Western Cape Province.

Publications associated with research:

  1. Y Smit, S Kassier, D Nel, N Koen. The barriers that women face when choosing food for their primary school children: A case study in the Western Cape Province, South Africa. SAJCH 2017;11(3): 129-134
  2. ML Marais, Y Smit, N Koen, E Lötze. Are the attitudes and practices of foodservice managers, catering personnel and students contributing to excessive food wastage at Stellenbosch University? SAJCN 2017;30 (3):60 -67
  3. Koen N, Visser J, van Niekerk E, Smit Y, Phillips L, Nel D. Student health and wellness at the Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Stellenbosch University: Current status and needs assessment. SAFP 2017; 1(1):1-7
  4. Y Smit, MLM Marais, E Joubert, H Donald, L Phillips. Engagement of Dietetic students and students with hearing loss: Experiences of both groups. AJHPE. 2018; 10(1):p 31 – 37
  5. N Erasmus, Y Smit, DG Nel, N Koen. Consumer's knowledge, perceptions attitudes and the barriers relating to organic foods, Johannesburg, Gauteng, South Africa. Journal of consumer sciences.2020;5: 87-97.