The members of the Council are appointed in terms of Section 5(4) of the Dental Technicians Act, 1979 (Act No. 19 of 1979) as amended. The various categories that the members of council are elected into are specified in terms of Section 5(1) of the said Act as members of the South African Dental Technicians Council for a period of five years with effect from 03 September 2013 (2013-2018)
Council consists of the Director of Oral Health of the Department of Health, five persons appointed by the Minister, and two dental technician contractors, two dental technicians or dental technologists and one dentist nominated and elected in the prescribed manner.
Council members meet four times annually and are responsible for preparing financial statements, executive management and exercising control over the organisation’s activities.
REGISTRAR/CEO
Mrs P.T. Nkuna is Registrar/CEO of the South African Dental Technicians Council. Her Key Performance Areas are as follows:
• Responsible for the overall control of the administration of the Council.
• Overseeing good corporate governance and compliance.
• Assists Council in developing and formulating policies and strategies.
• Mobilisation and deployment of Council’s resources for the attainment of the strategic and operation objectives.
• Appoints and ensures competency of personnel to ensure the effective and efficient administration of Council policy, strategies and processes.
• Development of a performance management system for organisation effectiveness.
• Fulfils the role and responsibilities as prescribed in terms of the Dental Technicians Act 19 of 1979, as amended.
• Maintains sound public relations with external stakeholders, including but not limited to health care authorities, the profession, the media and the general public and ensures the promotion of a positive image of Council and administration.
MEMBERS OF COUNCIL
Professor Peter Owen (President)
Prof Owen has been designated by the Minister to serve on the council as a dentist as per section 5(1)(e) read with section 5(3) Prof Owen is an Emeritus Professor and former head of the Department of Oral Rehabilitation in the School of Oral Health Sciences at the University of the Witwatersrand. He obtained his degree in Dentistry from the Royal Dental Hospital, University of London, an MScDent (cum laude) and his MChD specialty degree in Prosthodontics from the University of the Western Cape. He also holds a Fellowship of the International College of Dentistry and a Fellowship of the College of Dentistry of South Africa. Prof Owen has served on many different national committees and is a past President of the International College of Prosthodontists, the world body for the specialty. He has made over 140 presentations locally and internationally and has over 140 publications, including journal papers, books, chapters in books, manuals and other publications. He has been an Associate Editor of the International Journal of Prosthodontics, is a reviewer for a variety of other international journals and is a sub-editor for the South Africa Dental Journal. He is also a member of the Medical and Dental Professions Board of the Health Professions Council of South Africa. He was an early advocate of Clinical Dental Technology and has served on the SADTC for the last two years and has helped develop the accreditation processes for the training programmes and is assisting in ongoing curriculum development and assessment.
Mr. Irfaan Noorshib (Vice President)
Mr. Irfaan Noorshib is an owner in Minnaars Dental Laboratory in Port Elizabeth. He serves on the Council as a dental technician contractor nominated and elected by dental technician contractors as per section 5(1) (c). He qualified with a National Higher Diploma from the then Peninsula Technikon which is now known as the Cape Peninsula University of Technology (CPUT). He has acquired over 30 years of experience in the field of Dental Technology. A former member of Council appointed as the vice president; he is now serving his second term of office as a member of the Council.
Mr. Lufuno Nematswerani (Treasurer)
Mr. Lufuno Nematswerani is appointed to serve on the Council as per section 5(1)(b)(iii) of the Dental Technicians Act, 19 of 1979, as amended.
Mr Nematswerani holds a Masters Degree in Business Administration, Honours Degree in Human Resources Development, Post Graduate Diploma in Management and several certificates in the field of Human Resources and employee relations. Mr Nematswerani has 24 years’ experience in Corporate Service field especially human resource management. He is currently the Head of Human Capital Management at CIPC and his previous roles include being Executive manager: Corporate Services, General Manager Human Resources, Senior Manager Human Resources, Deputy Director Labour Relations, Human Resource Manager and Senior Labour Relations Officer. Mr. Nematswerani also serves on the following Boards:
• Development Bank of Southern Africa as a member of the Human Resources and Nomination Committee, Social and Ethics Committee, Infrastructure, Development and Knowledge management Committee.
• National Library of South Africa as the Chairperson of Human Resources Committee and member of the Finance Committee
• Mining Qualification Authority Sector Education and Training as the Chairperson of the Human Resources Committee
• Gauteng Film Commission as the Chairperson of the Human Resources Committee
• South African Council for Architectural Profession as Chairperson of Human Resources Committee and Member of the Risk and Audit Committee
Chief Director: Health Promotion, Nutrition, Oral Health
Dr Tshimi Lynn Moeng-Mahlangu is a Ministerial representative in the SADTC board, appointed under section 5(1)(a) of the Act. Dr Moeng-Mahlangu was previously the Ministerial representative in Board of Dietetics and Nutrition from 2010-2015. Dr Moeng-Mahlangu also served as the International Baby Food Action network (IBFAN)advisory board member for 10 years. Born in Cape Town, currently lives in Pretoria. She holds a Master’s degree in Dietetics from MEDUNSA, a Post Graduate Diploma in Health management from UCT and PhD in Human Movement Science from NWU. She was a lecturer in the Department of Human Nutrition at then Medical University of South Africa (MEDUNSA) prior to joining the Department of Health in 2002. She is currently the Chief Director responsible for Health Promotion, Nutrition and Oral Health. Her responsibilities as a Chief Director, include among others policy development and providing strategic leadership towards adoption of key National Health Promotion, Nutrition and Oral Health policies.
Nandipha Madiba (Member)
Ms. Nandi Madiba is appointed to serve on the Council as per section 5(1)(b)(iii) of the Dental Technicians Act, 19 of 1979 as amended.
Ms Madiba is a Corporate Governance Activist and has a vast experience in heading organizations and/or departments at executive level, with overall accountability, serving on Boards of Directors, as well as Audit and Risk Committees, over and above five years’ banking experience. She holds a designation of “Chartered Director” with the Institute of Directors South Africa (IoDSA). She holds a BCompt Hons degree, a BComm (Acc) degree with Distinction in Auditing, and a post-graduate Certificate in Advanced Taxation. In addition, she has an MBA degree from the University of Roehampton, with research on evaluation of the principles and practices of Corporate Governance. The choice was driven by having been an executive and NED since 1995/6, which formed the building blocks toward attaining Chartered Director designation. With over 20 years of NED experience and chairmanship of board committees, during 2019 she was appointed to the chairmanship position of the board of directors of Eastern Cape Development Corporation, Deputy Chair of the Sci-Bono Discovery Centre, and member of Overberg Water Board, as well National Heritage Council.
Prof. Pusetso D. Moipolai (Member)
Professor Pusetso D. Moipolai is appointed to serve on the Council as a dentist attached to a university having a dental faculty as per section 5(1)(b)(i) of the dental Technicians Act, 19 of 1979. Currently with the Sefako Makgatho Health Sciences University, School of Oral Health Sciences and is the Head of Clinical Department (Prosthodontics). She is also the current President of the South African Dental Association and National Council and has actively been involved in various structures of the SA Dental Association for several years. Most of her professional practice has been in academic practice as a Specialist Prosthodontist. Areas of interest and responsibility include, but not limited to, curriculum innovation; reinforcing multi-disciplinary professional approach for comprehensive clinical care; involvement in professionalisation of clinical teaching; driving the ethos of contextualised teaching and learning and assessment informed by mindfulness to national and global imperatives in dental education and management. Presently, she is part of the University SA HELM HoS HoD Foundation and Women in Leadership Cohort.
Ms. Karmil Govender (Member)
Ms Govender is appointed to serve on the Council in terms of section 5(1)(b)(iii) of the Dental Technicians Act, 19 of 1979. She is an admitted attorney and holds her BA (Law & Media and Communication) and LLB degrees from The University of Kwa-Zulu Natal. She also holds an MDP in Compliance from UNISA Graduate School of Business Leadership. Karmil has also worked as a practising attorney and more recently as a compliance officer and manager within the financial services industry where she has specialised in Regulatory Compliance over the past 8 years. She is currently a member of the Compliance Institute of South Africa. Miss Govender is currently employed at LexisNexis South Africa where she is a senior regulatory compliance author.
Mr. Lukas Steenkamp (Member)
Mr. Steenkamp is a dental technician contractor appointed to serve on the Council as per section 5(1)(c) of the Dental Technicians Act, 19 of 1979, as amended. He acquired his degree of Baccalaureus Technologiae from the Cape Peninsula University of Technology in December 2002. After working in various dental laboratories from 2003 to 2007, he went on to operate his own dental laboratory, to date. He has served on the executive committee of DENTASA representing the Free State and Northern Cape provinces from 2006 till 2019.
Mr. Gary Gunnell (Member)
Mr. Gunnell is appointed as a dental technician/dental technologist who practices the profession as an employee as per section 5(1)(d) of the Dental Technician Act. He acquired his National Higher Diploma in Dental Technology at the then Technikon Pretoria now known as Tshwane University of Technology (TUT) in December 1992. He has worked in the military since 1985. He has managed the South African National Defense Force (SANDF) Dental Laboratory since 1999 to date. He is a former member of Council and is now serving his second term of office.
Mr. Nkululo Ntshikilana
Mr. Ntshikilana is appointed as a dental technician/dental technologist who practices the profession as an employee as per section 5(1)(d) of the Dental Technician Act. Mr. Ntshikilana obtained his degree of Baccalaureus Technologiae qualification from the Durban University of Technology. He is currently enrolled for a postgraduate degree in business studies. He is an experienced dental technologist, amassing over fifteen years’ experience in the field both in the private and public sector. Mr. Ntshikilana has a keen interest in emerging technologies and how these can be used transform the profession into a formidable force in the 4th Industrial Revolution. He has established positive networks through which he empowers young people in the profession.