Dr Mirriam Matandela is a Chief Director Nursing Services: National Department of Health. She holds a comprehensive diploma and post-basic diploma in Trauma and Emergency. She holds a B Cur in Health Service Management, B Hon, Master’s (Cum Laude) and a PhD in Health Studies from UNISA.
She is also a researcher who has won awards at the Prakash Vallabh Primary Care Research Conference (locally) and the International Hospital Research Conference. Dr Matandela is the Director of Nursing Practice at the National Department of Health. Previously, she led a national nursing workforce technical team that quantified the shortage of staff in the country. Dr Matandela is a pioneer of a PEPFAR-funded Nursing Leadership initiative that led to the development of a national nursing leadership competency framework.
She is a ministerial delegate of the 17th council at SANC, who participates in EXCO, Education and Laws and Practice committees. Dr Matandela is the voice that advocates for nurses throughout the country, the African region and globally.
Dr Matandela’s achievements include:
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Successfully securing international donor funding for the development of a national nursing leadership competency framework
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Presenting a research paper at the African Field Epidemiology Network Research Conference 2021 titled ‘Covid-19 admissions and Outcomes in three selected public hospitals at Joe Gqabi Health District, Eastern Cape Province, April 2020 - February 2021
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An International Certificate Award granted by the World International Hospital Federation for presenting a poster titled “Nurses’ experiences regarding in-patient suicide in a general hospital” presented in the 40th World International Hospital Federation Congress held in Durban, November 2016.
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Publishing an article titled “Nurses’ experiences regarding in-patient suicide in a general hospital” in the Health SA Gesondheid in 2015.
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Presenting a research paper titled “Challenges experienced by medical officers when transferring patients to the next level of care in West Rand District” in 2011.
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Winning 1st prize for presenting a research paper titled “Reasons for staff turnover in Carletonville hospital”, presented at the Prakash Vallabh Primary Health Care Research Conference in 2004.
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Winning 2nd prize for presenting a research paper titled “Assessing effectiveness of Triage System implementation in an emergency department”, presented at the Prakash Vallabh Primary Health Care Research Conference in 2009.
Moreover, Dr Matandela leads Nursing practice in the country, and her passion is leadership development and the provision of quality Nursing Services across all levels of care. She recently presented a poster titled “A Needs Assessment for the Development of a Nursing Leadership Competency Framework: South African Nurses’ Perspectives” at the 2025 ICN in Helsinki, Finland, on 9-13 June 2025.
Dr Matandela is a project leader for the National Department of Health-PEPFAR South African Nursing Leadership Initiative, focusing on the development of the National Nursing Leadership Competency Framework for nurses in South Africa.
Currently, Dr Matandela is appointed as the Chief Nursing Officer.