According to SAMA, the award was presented to Prof Mogotlane for his selfless services to medicine without a view to material gain or pursuit of personal aggrandisement and pretension. He is also honoured for displaying by precept and example that medicine is a “calling” and to be of service in the name of the profession a special privilege.

Prof Mogotlane acknowledged the recognition that SAMA showed to him.

“This Award is humbling because I never thought that my efforts with education and training of health professionals in South Africa will be recognised. I dedicate the Award to my parents who (in my study days) gave me encouragement regularly when I was faltering. Their encouragement pushed me to where I am today,” he said.

Prof Mogotlane indicated that he is about to retire from the academic environment. He has been with the University of Pretoria as a Vice Principal since 2001.

“When I retire, I will be going back to school to study Family Medicine so that I can go and work in the deprived rural areas of our country especially Limpopo Province where I was born,” he added.

Professor Mogotlane was born in Zebediela in Limpopo Province. He studied medicine at the University of Natal. He was also trained as a surgeon in Glasgow and Edinburgh (in Scotland). Prof Mogotlane started his career in 1972 at the King Edward VIII Hospital. He has also been a lecturer, examiner and assessor at various institutions locally and internationally.