We welcome as a speaker, a dedicated physiotherapist, educator, and community innovator whose career reflects an unwavering commitment to excellence in patient care and early childhood intervention.

She obtained her BSc Physiotherapy degree in 2008 from the University of Limpopo, Medunsa Campus (now Sefako Makgatho Health Sciences University), and has since built a distinguished professional journey grounded in service, leadership, and impact.

For fourteen years, Ms Mahlangu served as a clinician at Steve Biko Academic Hospital, gaining extensive experience across Paediatrics, ICU, Neurology, Neurosurgery, and General Outpatient services. Her deepest imprint lies in Paediatrics, where she spent nine years advocating for high‑quality, compassionate care. Colleagues and students alike recognise her as a leader who “learns by doing,” modelling excellence, empathy, and clinical integrity. She has also contributed to the training of physiotherapy students from the University of Pretoria, shaping the next generation of healthcare professionals.

Driven by a profound sense of responsibility to her community, Ms Mahlangu founded the Ntuthuko Stimulation Centre in Soshanguve after only three years of paediatric experience. She identified a critical gap in services for children with special needs and responded by establishing a centre that has since become a beacon of hope, learning, and rehabilitation. Fully recognised by the Department of Social Development, Department of Mental Health, and Department of Basic Education, the Centre has—over the past decade—grown into a multidisciplinary hub offering early childhood intervention, physical rehabilitation, sensory integration, and learning support.

As of August 2023, the Centre accommodates 35 learners under the age of 12, and has supported over 300 children since its inception. Beyond clinical care, Ntuthuko Stimulation Centre has contributed to job creation, community empowerment, and now serves as a training site for SMU Allied Health students, strengthening the pipeline of skilled professionals in early intervention.

Ms Mahlangu’s visionary leadership has earned national recognition. In 2017, the Centre was honoured by the National Development Agency as the Best Centre for Babies and Children with Special Needs. In 2018, she received the Community Heroine Award at the Gauteng Premier Women’s Excellence Awards—an acknowledgement of her transformative impact on vulnerable communities.

Today, Ms Christinah Mahlangu stands as a powerful advocate for paediatric rehabilitation, inclusive education, and community‑centred healthcare. Her work continues to inspire practitioners, students, and leaders committed to building systems that uplift every child’s potential.