KHOLOFELO MKHWANAZI
Johannesburg
Summary
Accomplished Public Health professional with over 20 years of experience in communicable disease surveillance and outbreak investigation. Holds a Master of Public Health and excels in Notifiable Medical Conditions surveillance, epidemiological data analysis, and stakeholder engagement. Collaborates effectively with health departments and practitioners to convert surveillance data into actionable public health strategies.
Overview
22
22
years of professional experience
Work History
Provincial IPC Trainer
Gauteng Department of Health / NHLS / NICD
03.2024 - Current
- Trained Environmental Health Practitioners from multiple provinces on sampling, result interpretation, and corrective actions for routine surveillance and outbreak investigations, improving regional response capabilities.
- Delivered training on outbreak management and microbiological analysis of water, food, milk, and environmental samples, equipping practitioners with essential skills.
- Presented on Infection Prevention and Control Refresher Train-the-Trainer Programme, enhancing training methodologies.
Assistant Manager: Clinical Microbiology & Infectious Diseases
National Health Laboratory Service (NHLS)
Johannesburg
01.2023 - Current
- Led NMC-aligned surveillance activities, reporting findings to NICD and provincial stakeholders to inform public health responses.
- Analyse laboratory and surveillance data to identify disease trends, clusters, and public health risks.
- Coordinated laboratory findings and epidemiological information to support effective outbreak investigations.
- Collaborate with NICD centres, Provincial Departments of Health, clinicians, and IPC teams.
- Supervised and mentored junior staff on surveillance systems and reporting standards, enhancing team competency and adherence to SOPs.
- Produce surveillance summaries, outbreak reports, and public health documentation.
- National Health Laboratory Service (NHLS) provides diagnostic laboratory services to the public health sector in South Africa.
Senior Biotechnologist: Clinical Microbiology & Infectious Diseases
National Health Laboratory Service (NHLS)
08.2004 - Current
- Led investigations into foodborne, waterborne, and healthcare-associated outbreaks to identify sources and implement control measures.
- Delivered environmental microbiology support to investigate and manage suspected post-surgical infection outbreaks, enhancing patient safety.
- Collaborated with NICD on notifiable diseases, refining case definitions and addressing surveillance queries to strengthen public health response.
- Trained laboratory staff, clinicians, and surveillance personnel on outbreak management and data quality.
- Contributed to SOP development and implementation supporting surveillance and outbreak response.
- National Health Laboratory Service (NHLS) provides diagnostic laboratory services to the public health sector in South Africa.
Education
Master of Public Health - MPH
University of Pretoria
01-2025
Postgraduate Diploma in Public Health -
University of Pretoria
01-2022
BTech Biotechnology -
Tshwane University of Technology
01-2013
BTech Quality Management -
University of South Africa
01-2012
Skills
- Environmental microbiology
- Outbreak reporting
- Data analysis and interpretation
- Data management
- STATA (exposure)
- Report writing
- Quality systems
References
- Prof Mrudula Patel, Principal Scientist, NHLS, 076 451 1899, mrudula.patel@wits.ac.za
- Dr Teena Thomas, Senior Pathologist, NHLS, 082 740 2897, teena.thomas@nhls.ac.za
- Mrs Crystal Viljoen, Laboratory Manager, NHLS, 071 681 5732, crystal.viljoen@nhls.ac.za
Timeline
Provincial IPC Trainer
Gauteng Department of Health / NHLS / NICD
03.2024 - Current
Assistant Manager: Clinical Microbiology & Infectious Diseases
National Health Laboratory Service (NHLS)
01.2023 - Current
Senior Biotechnologist: Clinical Microbiology & Infectious Diseases
National Health Laboratory Service (NHLS)
08.2004 - Current
Master of Public Health - MPH
University of Pretoria
Postgraduate Diploma in Public Health -
University of Pretoria
BTech Biotechnology -
Tshwane University of Technology
BTech Quality Management -
University of South Africa