Getting to know Prof MBewu

"My vision for MRC is that of a happy and humane organisation, respected in South Africa and throughout the world. An MRC whose relevant and excellent research, is translated into sound health policy; good health practice; novel products such as drugs, vaccines and natural medicines; and health promotion that is accessible to all the people."

MRC NEWS recently had the privilege of interviewing the President of the Medical Research Council, Specialist Cardiologist, and Co- chairperson of the Inter Academy Medical Panel.

Prof Anthony MBewu's introduction to the MRC came when the former Minister of Health, Nkosazana Dlamini- Zuma appointed him as a Member of the first fully transformed Board of the MRC in 1995. After a two year spell as a Consultant Cardiologist at the University of Cape Town he was appointed Executive Director for Research at the MRC in 1996; and then nine years later as President of the MRC in 2005.

Prof MBewu was born on 15 January1960, the only son of parents who were both teachers. His grandfather, Dr Donald Mtimkulu had been Headmaster of Ohlange in KwaZulu Natal, and subsequently a Professor of Sociology at Fort Hare University. At the time of the extension of the Bantu Education Act to the Universities in 1959, Dr Mtimkulu, together with most of the Faculty at Fort Hare resigned in protest, rather than teach an inferior form of higher education.

Dr Mtimkulu left for Zambia, but briefly returned in 1963 to pick up his grandson due to the family's concern about the severely limited prospects for the boy in apartheid South Africa. In 1967 the family moved to the UK where Prof MBewu lived until 1994.

He says the motivation behind being a doctor was, as for most black South Africans at the time, a matter of circumstance rather than choice. "South Africans were scattered all over the world, as guests of various countries, and one was constrained to enter occupations that would guarantee one's stay as a desirable citizen, in order to avoid deportation to South Africa and an apartheid jail as a political prisoner. What better choice than medicine, which is in demand in every country in the world. At the time, in the early 1970s, the prospect of being able to return to a free and democratic South Africa seemed a distant and unlikely reality!”

Nevertheless, he was able to return to South Africa two weeks before the first democratic election in 1994. Ironically, he had already voted twice in British General Elections before he was able to vote in his own country. His intent was to participate in building the new nation of South Africa, rather than the ease and comfort of life as Consultant Cardiologist in the UK.

"The British were extraordinarily generous to me and other exiles, providing me with an excellent school education, and free medical education at Oxford and London Universities. But after completing specialisation in cardiology in Manchester, and a research doctorate in preventive cardiology with London University; I knew that I would be able to make a much greater contribution in South Africa than in the UK”.

In the 12 years since 1994, Prof MBewu says, the MRC has undergone a remarkable transformation, from a predominantly white and male organisation in 1994 to having 67% female employees working with an 80% black staff complement that almost ‘ reflects the face of South Africa'. Furthermore, the organisation has opened up not only to all the communities of South Africa; but also to the world - with its benchmark's in science rising to meet those of the international community. This is reflected for example in the fact that when he arrived in 1996, Prof MBewu asserted that no one could become a Unit Director without a research doctorate - and MBChB was not equivalent to a research doctorate. Now, he says, 10 years later one needs a research doctorate simply to become a specialist scientist - a standard that is on a par with sister health research organisations overseas.

"My vision for the MRC is that of a happy and humane organisation, respected in South Africa and throughout the world. An MRC whose relevant and excellent research, is translated into sound health policy; good health practice; novel products such as drugs, vaccines and natural medicines; and health promotion that is accessible to all the people. I think we are well on track to meeting that within the next few years; and it is testimony to the hard work, and courage to embrace change that all the MRC staff has displayed”. Already we see signs of his vision happening within the MRC.