COHSASA’s Technical Committee comprises a diverse panel of top clinical experts from various disciplines. Meeting quarterly, the committee rigorously evaluates the external survey results of facilities in the accreditation programme. Based on these findings, the committee makes decisions on the accreditation awards for the board to ratify.
The Committee’s membership reflects a range of healthcare disciplines, professional bodies, government organisations, and private sector expertise, ensuring a balanced and thorough assessment process. There are two roles for the committee, one is to review and contribute to the development of the accreditation standards.
The primary role is to make decisions on the accreditation awards for the Board to ratify, based on:
- Compliance data captured through CoQIS, COHSASA’s web-based Quality Information System.
- Structured reports of the on-site evaluations and insights from COHSASA’s trained External Surveyors.
For a healthcare facility to achieve accreditation, it must meet the following criteria:
- All services and departments must score at least 80/100.
- No remaining non-compliant critical criteria that could result in harm or injury to patients or staff.
- Compliance with all local laws and regulations.
- No significant organisational, administrative, or managerial deficiencies.
The Technical Committee’s meticulous oversight ensures that facilities not only meet internationally recognised standards but also cultivate a culture of continuous quality improvement.
Together, our Board of Directors and Technical Committee form the backbone of COHSASA’s governance framework. Their expertise, leadership, and dedication ensure we continue to transform healthcare systems, strengthen capacity, and empower healthcare facilities across Africa to provide safe, reliable, and patient-centred care.
The COHSASA Technical Committee is a distinguished panel of clinical experts and healthcare leaders who bring decades of experience and insight to the accreditation process. Their expertise ensures a fair, thorough, and evidence-based evaluation of healthcare facilities participating in the COHSASA accreditation programme.
Jacqui Stewart is the Chief Executive Officer of COHSASA and non-voting Chairperson of the Technical Committee.
Professor Busisiwe Bhengu is a respected critical care nurse and Honorary Associate Professor at the University of KwaZulu-Natal. She is the former Chairperson of the South African Nursing Council.
Professor Daan Kocks is a leading specialist in Occupational Medicine and currently heads the Department of Occupational Medicine at Sefako Makgatho University. He has served as Chairperson of the South African Society of Occupational Medicine (SASOM) since 1997.
Dr. Ziyanda Mgugudo-Sello is a Public Health Medicine Specialist and the Head of Unit: Professional Services at the South African Medical Association (SAMA).
Dr. Elom Hillary Otchi is a consultant in healthcare quality, patient safety, and systems development. He holds a PhD in Public Health and serves as Technical Director of the Africa Institute of Healthcare Quality, Safety, and Accreditation.
Health Services Management College of Human Sciences, Department of Health Studies at the University of South Africa (UNISA). Board Member of the Sigma Theta Tau Chi Xi Chapter. Certified Total Quality Management Practitioner, South African Nursing Council Member and Health Systems Strengthening Consultant.
Esme Pudule brings over 35 years of experience in palliative care, quality assurance, and patient-centred healthcare. She is the Operational Manager at Chris Hani Baragwanath Academic Hospital’s Palliative Care Unit.
Professor Gert van Zyl is the Dean of the Faculty of Health Sciences at the University of the Free State. He has spent decades shaping healthcare education, leadership, and quality improvement.
An experienced manager and educator, trained as a Registered General, Psychiatric, Community Health Nurse and Midwife with over 30 years’ experience. She is an Ad Hoc Lecturer at the University of Stellenbosch, Tygerberg Campus.
Dr. Cornelle Young is a lecturer at Stellenbosch University in the Department of Nursing and Midwifery and has taught outreach courses in Mpumalanga and the Northern Cape to senior nurses in management and advanced nursing practices. She is also responsible for the Quality Assurance programme in the Department of Nursing. She worked in the Western Cape Department of Health at a local and provincial level and has extensive experience of private healthcare at both national and international levels.
The COHSASA Technical Committee embodies excellence, objectivity, and commitment to improving healthcare quality across Africa. With its collective expertise, COHSASA’s Technical Committee ensures every healthcare facility striving for accreditation is assessed against the highest standards of safety, care, and continuous improvement.
COHSASA adheres to rigorous financial governance processes. An independent external audit of COHSASA’s financial records is conducted annually to ensure accountability and compliance with all relevant regulations and governance standards. The audit results are presented to the Board for review and approval, ensuring the organisation remains financially sustainable while fulfilling its purpose of enhancing healthcare quality and safety. This process reinforces stakeholder trust in COHSASA’s responsible financial stewardship.
