Zukiswa Zingela

Born in 1969. National of South Africa. Head of Department, Psychiatry and Behavioural Sciences, Walter Sisulu University and Nelson Mandela Academic Hospital, Eastern Cape Department of Health (since 2015).

Master of Medicine, Psychiatry (University of Pretoria); Fellow of the College of Psychiatrists of South Africa.

Previously held positions as Leader of the Dean's Advisory Committee in charge of the Faculty of Health Sciences, Walter Sisulu University (2016-2017); Head of Clinical Unit, Dora Nginza Hospital, Eastern Cape Department of Health and Senior Lecturer at Walter Sisulu University (2011-2015); Specialist Psychiatrist in private practice (2003-2008); Consultant Psychiatrist: Blackpool North Community Mental Health Team NHS, United Kingdom (2003-2008); Duties in above posts included training of undergraduate medical students and postgraduate students in psychiatry with an emphasis on addiction psychiatry and substance use, providing substitution treatment for patients with opioid use related disorders, neuropsychiatry, consultation liaison psychiatry, child and adolescent psychiatry, old age psychiatry, psychopharmacology and public mental health. Honours: Chairperson of Ernest Malgas Youth Treatment Centre Board (Rehabilitation for Substance Abuse) (2016-2018); Chairperson of South African Society of Psychiatrist, Eastern Cape Subgroup (2016 to 2018); Chairperson of WSU Registrar Training and Implementation Committee (2015-2018); Chairperson of Task Team appointed by the Eastern Cape Department of Health Head of department to investigate allegations of patient abuse in Tower Psychiatric Hospital and Rehabilitation Centre. Investigative report delivered to Minister of Health in 2018.

Author and co-author of numerous publications including First-episode psychosis and Substance Use. Authors: Thungana, Zingela (supervisor) & Van Wyk (Co-supervisor). SAJP (2018) Vol 24.; M. Nagdee, S. Grobler, Z. Zingela, Personality and Personality Disorder, Chapter in J. Burns and L. Roos (ed.:), Oxford Textbook of Psychiatry for Southern Africa, 2nd edition, 2016.

Member of steering committee for establishment of rehabilitation for substance abuse (Ernest Malgas Youth Treatment Centre) (2012-2015); consultant, consultation committee on implantation of Prevention of and Treatment of Substance Abuse Act. Advised, on a voluntary basis, Ernest Malgas Youth Treatment centre on implementation of substance abuse act and support for stating the rehabilitation program (2015); Established a mental health outreach program, to Ernest Malgas Youth Treatment Centre offering assessment and interventions (2016 to date); Facilitated support from Department of Health to Local Drug Action Committee through allocation of multidisciplinary staff member (Clinical Psychologist) to serve on the committee (2014-2016).

15th Biannual National Congress of the South African Society of Psychiatrists (2018) (presented paper on first episode psychosis and substance abuse, authors: Thungana, Zingela and van Wyk); Substance Abuse assessment and intervention: Provincial Training organized by Walter Sisulu University and Eastern Cape Department of Health (2017); 7th African Population Conference, Johannesburg (South Africa) (2015) (presented paper on school-based substance abuse awareness programmes, authors: Zingela, Bronkhorst and Ngwetsheni); 7th African Population Conference, Johannesburg (South Africa) (2015) (presented paper on the integration of the South African Master Drug Plan Policy and Mental Health Policy Framework and Strategic Plan. (author: Z Zingela); National Substance Abuse Colloquium (2015) (chaired and presented paper on aftercare, outpatient and maintenance services for substance abuse); Substance Abuse Colloquium, Port Elizabeth (South Africa), in preparation for the opening of the Ernest Malgas Youth Treatment Centre (2015) (organizer).

Member of the International Narcotics Control Board (since 2020) [1]. Second Vice-President and Chair (2023), Vice-Chair (2021) and member (2020) of the Standing Committee on Estimates. First Vice-President of the Board (2022).



[1] Elected by the Economic and Social Council on 7 May 2019; re-elected by the Council for a five-year term (2025-2030) on 9 April 2024.

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