Speech & Language Therapy

Dr Mmunyane Mophosho is a Speech-Language Therapist, Audiologist, academic and researcher with over 40 years of experience spanning Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC), severe neurodevelopmental disabilities, cerebral palsy and inclusive education. She currently serves as a Research Associate in the Department of Speech Language Pathology at the University of the Witwatersrand (Wits) in Johannesburg and as a consultant and lecturer in Speech-Language Therapy at Boitekanelo College.

Dr Mophosho has held academic and leadership roles at the University of the Witwatersrand and the Centre for Augmentative and Alternative Communication at the University of Pretoria, as well as in clinical and specialised educational institutions. Her work incorporates culturally responsive practice, family-centred early intervention and multilingual considerations into clinical training.

She has also contributed to professional organisations and capacity-building initiatives across the continent and co-edited the 2023 textbook Inclusion, Learner Support, and Assistive Technology: An African Approach to Helping Learners Learn.

Sthembiso Ncube is a Speech-Language Therapist and lecturer who is currently pursuing doctoral studies in Speech-Language Pathology. Her academic and professional work is grounded in clinical practice, education, research and advocacy, with a commitment to improving outcomes for individuals with communication and swallowing difficulties.

Her research and clinical interests focus particularly on neonatal feeding and swallowing, including supporting small and sick neonates and their families within neonatal intensive care and kangaroo mother care settings. She is interested in strengthening the role of Speech-Language Therapists within neonatal feeding teams and promoting evidence-based swallowing and breastfeeding interventions.

Sthembiso also has a strong interest in interprofessional collaboration and family-centred care. Through her work as a clinician, educator and researcher, she strives to create supportive environments in which patients, families and students feel heard, valued and empowered.

Bongekile Shiba is a Speech-Language Therapist and lecturer in the Department of Speech-Language Therapy at Boitekanelo College. She is currently pursuing a Master of Science in Medicine (Child Health Neurodevelopment) at the University of the Witwatersrand. Her work integrates clinical practice, teaching and research, with particular interests in communication, child neurodevelopment and multidisciplinary care.

Her clinical interests include communication disorders, speech sound disorders, adult neurogenic communication disorders and child neurodevelopment. She is passionate about supporting students in developing strong clinical reasoning and confidence in their professional practice.

Her research focuses on child neurodevelopment, Autism Spectrum Disorder and access to neurodevelopmental services. Her current research explores the experiences of parents of children with Autism Spectrum Disorder as they navigate neurodevelopmental services in Botswana, with the aim of understanding challenges and identifying opportunities to strengthen service delivery.

Sinelihle Kotelana is a Speech-Language Pathologist and clinical researcher with a professional interest in paediatric care and rehabilitative sciences. Following the completion of her public-sector community service, she transitioned into private practice, where she focused on paediatric speech therapy.

She has a particular interest in improving healthcare equity and has co-authored a peer-reviewed study on the availability of resources for paediatric hearing care in a South African province. Her research, conducted in association with the Department of Rehabilitative Science at the University of Fort Hare, examined resource availability for Early Hearing Detection and Intervention (EHDI).

Sinelihle is committed to combining frontline clinical experience with evidence-based research to support children and their families while contributing to the development of speech-language therapy practice.

Tinotenda Sally Jomairwa is a Speech-Language Therapist with a passion for communication and improving the quality of life of individuals with communication and swallowing needs. She holds a Bachelor of Science in Speech-Language Pathology from the University of Fort Hare.

She completed her community service in rural KwaZulu-Natal, where she gained practical experience in speech, language and dysphagia assessment and intervention across diverse populations. This experience strengthened her clinical skills, independence and adaptability, as well as her ability to work effectively within multidisciplinary teams.

Tinotenda is committed to continuous professional learning and contributing meaningfully to the development of the Speech-Language Therapy profession through clinical practice and patient-centred care.