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Pictured above L-R: Prof Shabi Madhi, Dr Marion Bergman, Prof Judith Bruce, Prof Zeblon Vilakazi
The Zola Wits Dental Clinic is a refurbished and re-equipped 15-chair, state-of the-art facility for community-based training and clinical services to the Zola and surrounding Soweto community in Gauteng Province, South Africa.
Construction was completed in January and the facility was officially opened to the public on 1 August 2023. The dental clinic is staffed by at least two dentists as well as oral hygienists, dental assistants, and specialist dentists on a rotational basis, supervising around 12 students per rotation.
The project was made possible by a generous donation from the Stanley, Marion, Paul and Edward Bergman Family Foundation to Wits University’s Centenary campaign.
A delegation comprising donors, senior executives and academics from the University, Faculty and School of Oral Health Sciences, the Johannesburg Health District, and Zola Community Health Committee, visited the new building in January.
Speaking at the walk-through of the facility, donor Dr Marion Bergman said: “It’s truly the realization of a dream to be here. The thought process that began this project started at least five years ago. I feel so much gratitude that this was able to happen and that we came to this moment. I’m totally confident that the community will use this clinic in the way it’s supposed to be used and that it will be beneficial.”
The multi-year, multi-million-rand gift to the University comes following in-depth consultations between the Bergman family and Wits University on how best to support the work of the School of Oral Health Sciences, especially in expanding its footprint of service to high-density, low-service areas.
Wits Vice-Chancellor and Principal, Professor Zeblon Vilakazi translated the words of community representative, Mr Themba Twala, who began with thanking Prof. Vilakazi and the Bergman family very much for their contribution to the clinic, and Wits for choosing Zola for their donation to such a clinic. He carried on to say:
“This clinic will not only serve this community, but will help train students who will serve the whole country. In our culture, when someone is given a piece of bread, they go down on their knees to show their deep appreciation [and that they are grateful] for the rest of their lifetime. In this case, the clinic will serve not only this [current] generation, but many more lifetimes and generations to come, and motivate students to join this [dental] profession, for which we are grateful.”
Professor Joy Shackleton, Acting Head of the School of Health Sciences said the facility has been a long time in the making.
“I think we first visited in 2018, looking for space for dental students and this was a nice big building, but it was in a sad state. I’m looking forward to using this space for healing, for teaching, and hopefully for some preventive dentistry, so that we’re not needed as much as we are,” she said.
The new clinic is a welcome reprieve for not only Zola residents but also for the School, which has been beset with challenges in recent years. Dr Takalani Mushungwa, a lecturer in the School and the “face of Zola Clinic” who led the walk-through said: “We have had tons and tons of problems at Wits Dental School. Now we have hope.”
The Dean of the Faculty of Health Sciences, Professor Shabir Madhi, said: “If there’s one team of individuals in the faculty who I’ve got complete faith in after all they’ve been through over the past two years, it’s Oral Health Sciences. The excitement that exists in the School because of this facility, it’s really what’s needed in terms of reviving its spirit.”
Professor Vilakazi said: “Through our partnerships we are able to be part of rebuilding this country. It has been said that a dream deferred will not be a dream deterred. This clinic, when opened, will serve a massive area. It will serve people from all over Soweto. This will be a flagship of what dental services for the people ought to look like.”
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