South African vet nominated for world council

Dr Nandipha Ndudane, president of the South African Veterinary Council (SAVC) and principal of the Tsolo Agriculture and Rural Development Institute (TARDI), has been nominated to serve on the World Veterinary Association (WVA) as the representative for Africa.

SAVC endorsed Ndudane’s nomination, recognising her significant contributions to the WVA.

In congratulating her, the Eastern Cape Department of Agriculture and Agrarian Reform said it was pleased that Ndudane was flying the provincial flag high by being the first female SAVC president.

The department wished her good luck as she aimed to represent Africa if elected, and help coordinate the veterinary issues of Africa.

Commenting on her nomination, Ndudane said her voluntary and unpaid work were a form of social contribution to the advancement of veterinary services. In her motivation to the WVA following the nomination, she expressed a fervent desire to serve as the councillor for the Africa region.

Ndudane has served as the president of SAVC since 2022, a role she acknowledges carries significant responsibility overseeing about 6 000 registrants. In this capacity, she engages with a broad spectrum of stakeholders, including the industry, government, associations, academics and the public. Her role also involves ensuring the protection of the environment, animals and humans.

As the founding principal, she has played a crucial role in the accreditation of TARDI, contributing to the institution’s mission of increasing access to para-veterinary animal health qualifications. TARDI stands out as one of only two institutions in South Africa that offer face-to-face veterinary animal health qualifications.

With a master’s degree in Veterinary Pathology and a Bachelor of Veterinary Medicine and Surgery, Ndudane has dedicated 19 years to public service, with a specific focus on veterinary education, community disease prevention, and the training of veterinary and para-veterinary professionals.

She has also successfully secured funding for veterinary and paraveterinary students, a commitment that extends to veterinary students enrolled at the Faculty of Veterinary Science at the University of Pretoria. She has forged ties with the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations to create opportunities for reskilling and upskilling unemployed paraprofessional graduates. As a champion of community animal healthworkers and para-veterinary professionals, she is at the forefront of efforts in zoonotic disease control.

“The extensive network and international collaborations I have amassed and my leadership at [SAVC] will aid and contribute to growing the organisational impact of WVA,” she said. “Also, coming from a country that has the highest incidence of discriminatory practices and unfairness and having the privilege to experience these inequalities first hand, I am very accommodating, and fair minded to allow participation, as well as understanding and accommodating differing views.” –

DR NANDIPHA NDUDANE