{"id":22557,"date":"2025-05-23T12:42:54","date_gmt":"2025-05-23T12:42:54","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/vut.ac.za\/?p=22557"},"modified":"2025-07-25T09:20:12","modified_gmt":"2025-07-25T09:20:12","slug":"vut-alumnus-khomotso-ramabokela-wins-national-award-in-private-healthcare","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/vut.ac.za\/st\/vut-alumnus-khomotso-ramabokela-wins-national-award-in-private-healthcare\/","title":{"rendered":"VUT alumnus Khomotso Ramabokela wins national award in private healthcare"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><strong>&#8220;VUT alumnus Khomotso Ramabokela wins national healthcare award for his leadership, compassion, and excellence as a nurse in South Africa\u2019s private sector.&#8221;<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>23 May 2025 | Story: Qhawekazi Memani | Photo: Supplied<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>3 minutes read time<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-gallery has-nested-images columns-default is-cropped wp-block-gallery-1 is-layout-flex wp-block-gallery-is-layout-flex\">\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img fetchpriority=\"high\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"683\" height=\"1024\" data-id=\"22566\" src=\"https:\/\/vut.ac.za\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/alumni-nurse-683x1024.webp\" alt=\"VUT alumnus Khomotso Ramabokela wins national award in private healthcare\" class=\"wp-image-22566\" srcset=\"https:\/\/vut.ac.za\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/alumni-nurse-683x1024.webp 683w, https:\/\/vut.ac.za\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/alumni-nurse-200x300.webp 200w, https:\/\/vut.ac.za\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/alumni-nurse-768x1152.webp 768w, https:\/\/vut.ac.za\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/alumni-nurse-1024x1536.webp 1024w, https:\/\/vut.ac.za\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/alumni-nurse-1365x2048.webp 1365w, https:\/\/vut.ac.za\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/alumni-nurse-8x12.webp 8w, https:\/\/vut.ac.za\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/alumni-nurse-scaled.webp 1706w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 683px) 100vw, 683px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">VUT alumnus Khomotso Ramabokela wins national award in private healthcare<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>The Vaal University of Technology (VUT) is celebrating Mr Khomotso Comfort Ramabokela, a proud alumnus of VUT, for his outstanding contribution to healthcare and the recognition he recently received as \u201cCelebrate of the Year\u201d across South Africa and the African continent. At 29 years old, this professional nurse and shift leader in the Emergency Department at Randfontein Private Hospital exemplifies the values, leadership, and compassion VUT strives to instill in its graduates.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Drawn to healthcare by a deep desire to help others, Mr Ramabokela reflects, \u201cI\u2019ve always been interested in careers that allow me to make a tangible difference in people\u2019s lives.\u201d His natural curiosity and drive to keep learning made nursing a perfect match. \u201cThe opportunity to learn about the human body, respond in moments of crisis, and support people through their toughest times, that\u2019s what motivates me.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Mr Ramabokela completed his Bachelor of Nursing Science at VUT in 2022, calling the experience life-changing. \u201cThe education I received at VUT provided more than just knowledge. It gave me the foundation to navigate real-world challenges in the healthcare system,\u201d he shares. \u201cMy former VUT lecturers, Ms Dikeledi Selepe, Ms Dudu Motloba, Mr Siya Rayise, Ms Maria Mothebe, and Dr Rudo Ramalisa, were always available, supportive, and instrumental in shaping our understanding and skills.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Today, that foundation supports him daily in a fast-paced and high-pressure environment. As a shift leader, Mr Ramabokela doesn\u2019t just manage urgent medical cases; he leads a team, ensures quality care, and brings empathy, urgency, and calm to every situation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>He lives by these essential values in emergency care: empathy, calmness, urgency, leadership, and a hunger to keep learning. \u201cI want to continue developing in clinical and educational spaces,\u201d he adds. \u201cBut I also value maintaining a healthy work-life balance and spending time with the people I love.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Being named \u201cCelebrate of the Year\u201d felt deeply affirming. \u201cIt made me feel seen,\u201d he says. \u201cIt motivated me to keep learning, improving, and giving my best. It showed me that what we do matters.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Still, the journey isn\u2019t without its challenges. Communication barriers, adapting to change, workload, and limited career development are all part of the reality. But Mr Ramabokela approaches each one with a problem-solving mindset. Good relationships with colleagues improve communication. Sharing the workload makes things manageable. Engaging in ongoing training opens doors,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Although he\u2019s not yet involved in mentorship or outreach, he\u2019s ready and willing. \u201cI\u2019d love to give back and support future nurses and students, especially in the VUT community. That\u2019s where my journey started, and I\u2019m proud of that,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Ms Selepe expressed pride in Mr Ramakobela\u2019s continued growth:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cHe lives by the essential values we strive to instill in emergency care: empathy, calmness, urgency, leadership, and a hunger to keep learning. It is inspiring to witness his journey. He remains committed to developing in clinical and educational spaces while valuing a healthy work-life balance and making time for those he loves. I could not be prouder of the professional he has become.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Congratulations, Mr Ramakobela, on your outstanding achievement, and thank you for flying the VUT flag high. Your dedication and passion continue to make us proud.<\/p>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>&#8220;VUT alumnus Khomotso Ramabokela wins national healthcare award for his leadership, compassion, and excellence as a nurse in South Africa\u2019s [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":4,"featured_media":22568,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"site-sidebar-layout":"default","site-content-layout":"","ast-site-content-layout":"default","site-content-style":"default","site-sidebar-style":"default","ast-global-header-display":"","ast-banner-title-visibility":"","ast-main-header-display":"","ast-hfb-above-header-display":"","ast-hfb-below-header-display":"","ast-hfb-mobile-header-display":"","site-post-title":"","ast-breadcrumbs-content":"","ast-featured-img":"","footer-sml-layout":"","ast-disable-related-posts":"","theme-transparent-header-meta":"","adv-header-id-meta":"","stick-header-meta":"","header-above-stick-meta":"","header-main-stick-meta":"","header-below-stick-meta":"","astra-migrate-meta-layouts":"default","ast-page-background-enabled":"default","ast-page-background-meta":{"desktop":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-4)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"tablet":{"background-color":"","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"mobile":{"background-color":"","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""}},"ast-content-background-meta":{"desktop":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-5)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"tablet":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-5)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"mobile":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-5)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""}},"footnotes":""},"categories":[47],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-22557","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-latest-news-vaal-university-of-technology"],"aioseo_notices":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/vut.ac.za\/st\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/22557","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/vut.ac.za\/st\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/vut.ac.za\/st\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/vut.ac.za\/st\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/4"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/vut.ac.za\/st\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=22557"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/vut.ac.za\/st\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/22557\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":25931,"href":"https:\/\/vut.ac.za\/st\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/22557\/revisions\/25931"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/vut.ac.za\/st\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/22568"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/vut.ac.za\/st\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=22557"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/vut.ac.za\/st\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=22557"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/vut.ac.za\/st\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=22557"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}