The 28th Congress of SASBMB was hosted by the University of Venda and held from 7-10 July at the Protea Ranch Resort in Polokwane. This was the first in-person congress following the COVID-19 pandemic, with the last in-person conference being hosted by North-West University and held in Potchefstroom in 2018.
Invited speakers, Local Organizing Committee members, University of Venda management and SASBMB council members at the opening ceremony.
The last congress in 2022 was forced to adopt an online format due to the pandemic and was hosted by the University of Pretoria. The 2024 congress comes a year after the 50th anniversary of the society and 83 years after the first instruction of Biochemistry as a formal university subject at the University of Pretoria. This was the largest congress of its kind in the history of the society with over 400 delegates and the first time the congress was held in Limpopo province.
Prof Ed Sturrock receiving the SASBMB Gold medal award. From left: Prof Francois van der Westhuizen (outgoing President), Prof Ed Sturrock, Prof Iqbal Parker (Executive Secretary, IUBMB), Dr Jo de la Mare (incoming President)
At the opening ceremony, the Gold medal was awarded to Prof Ed Sturrock of the University of Cape Town in acknowledgement of his outstanding research track record centered on angiotensin-converting enzymes and their inhibitors, as well as his service to the disciplines of biochemistry and molecular biology in the country. The Silver medal was awarded to Prof Thulani Makhalanyane from Stellenbosch University in recognition of his excellent contribution to the field of microbiome ecology in extreme environments.
Prof Thulani Makhalanyane receiving the SASBMB Silver medal award. From left: Prof Francois van der Westhuizen (outgoing President), Prof Ed Sturrock, Prof Iqbal Parker (Executive Secretary, IUBMB), Dr Jo de la Mare (incoming President)
A number of distinguished international researchers attended the meeting and delivered plenary lectures, including Profs Kiaran Kirk from Australian National University (IUBMB sponsored speaker), Matthias Mayer from Heidelberg University in Germany, Stanley Mukanganyama from the University of Zimbabwe, Greg Blatch from Notre Dame University in Australia, Nikolai Kuhnert from Constructor University in Germany and Tomohisa Ogawa from Tohuku University in Japan. Congratulations to the Local Organizing Committee on a hugely successful and enjoyable congress!
Congress delegates attending the Plenary talks
At the General Meeting of the society, Prof Francois van der Westhuizen retired as President of the society and Dr Jo de la Mare from Rhodes University was inducted into this position, having previously served as Secretary (2018-2022) and Vice-President (2022-2024). The society is indebted to Prof van der Westhuizen for his outstanding leadership of the society, having also served as Vice-President from 2018-2022.
Prof Addmore Shonhai from University of Venda, Chair of the local organizing committee
Gratitude is also extended to the retiring council members, Profs Dean Goldring from the University of Kwazulu-Natal and Emmanuel Mukhwevo from North-West University and Dr Nicky Verhoog from Stellenbosch University. Finally, it was announced that the society would be hosting the congress of its parent body, the International Union of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, in Cape Town from 19-23 September 2027. This will be the first time that the congress will be held on African soil.
Prof Francois van der Westhuizen, University of Venda student volunteer, Dr Jo de la Mare
