JOHANNESBURG — The Gauteng Department of Health has selected 18 young people from disadvantaged communities across the province to study medicine in Cuba under the Nelson Mandela–Fidel Castro (NMFC) Medical Training Programme, the department said.
Selection from a large applicant pool
The cohort — made up of 10 males and eight females — was chosen after a recruitment process that attracted 2,480 applications when it opened in May 2025. Of those, 740 met the qualifying criteria and progressed to further assessment. A second cut produced a shortlist of 91 candidates before the final 18 were confirmed.
| Stage | Number |
|---|---|
| Initial applicants | 2,480 |
| Met qualifying criteria | 740 |
| Shortlisted | 91 |
| Selected for Cuba programme | 18 |
The selected students come from all five Gauteng districts — Tshwane, Johannesburg, Ekurhuleni, Sedibeng and the West Rand — and were identified through assessments that included home visits, interviews and background checks. The department said it considered academic performance together with candidates’ commitment to serving underserved communities.
Who qualified and why it matters
The recruitment targeted learners from households earning no more than R350,000 a year and gave preference to those who attended Quintile 1 to 3 schools. The department emphasised that socio-economic circumstances and the potential for future contribution to the public health sector were central to selection.
Among those chosen is 20‑year‑old Zezethu Swelindawo from Cosmo City in Johannesburg, described in the department’s release as viewing the opportunity as a crucial step towards becoming a doctor.
- Programme focus: Cuba’s medical training model prioritises primary healthcare, prevention and community-based practice.
- Return to SA: Students will complete clinical integration at South African universities after studying in Cuba.
- Expected outcome: Graduates are expected to join the public healthcare system, helping reduce doctor shortages in underserved areas.
Historical context and local impact
The NMFC programme originated from an agreement between former South African president Nelson Mandela and former Cuban president Fidel Castro. It was established to address doctor shortages in previously disadvantaged and rural communities by training South African students in Cuba’s public health–oriented system.
Gauteng officials said the Cuban approach — which places strong emphasis on community health, prevention and primary care — aligns with national priorities to strengthen services at clinic and community level. For a province where underserved areas still struggle to attract medical staff, every new cohort is framed as a long‑term investment in service delivery.
Practical considerations for candidates and communities
Successful applicants will first undertake academic and clinical training in Cuba before returning for clinical placements at local universities. The department expects these students to integrate into the public sector on completion of their training, particularly in areas that historically recorded shortages of medical practitioners.
For families and communities, the selection brings both hope and responsibility: candidates from lower-income households often face financial and social hurdles while studying abroad and during reintegration. The department’s selection criteria and support mechanisms will therefore be important to track as the programme progresses.
What to watch next
Key follow-ups will include confirmation of the universities that will host clinical training on return, details of financial and welfare support for students while abroad, and commitments — if any — regarding placements in public facilities after qualification.
For now, the announcement is a reminder that long-standing international partnerships remain a component of South Africa’s strategy to bolster human resources for health — and that provincial efforts to identify candidates from marginalised communities continue to shape who benefits from those arrangements.
Reporting from Johannesburg.
