Management

The Centre for Tissue Engineering is wholly owned and managed by the Tshwane University of Technology Faculty of Science, and is an outflow of TUT’s commitment to community engagement.

Prof Prince Ngobeni

Executive Dean: Faculty of Science

Dr DJM Frantzen

Medical Director

Mrs Cleo Ndhlovu

General Manager

Ms Rhyleen Chauke

Operations Technologist

Ms Tshego Nkontlha

Quality & Compliance Practitioner

Hildah Ramorulana

Senior Administrator

Mr Marais Steyn

Tissue Procurement Supervisor

Various staff members (laboratory and office only) from Centre for Tissue Engineering.

Prof Prince Ngobeni

Acting Campus Rector of Pretoria Campuses

After obtaining his National Diploma Analytical Chemistry in 1989 from Technikon North West he was employed at the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) for nine years. Whilst in the employ of the CSIR he obtained his National Higher Diploma in Chemistry at Technikon Pretoria in 1992. In 1995 he was employed by Technikon North West (TNW) as a chemistry lecturer and completed his MTech degree at Technikon Pretoria in 1998. In 2015, Professor Ngobeni was appointed as Executive Dean of the Faculty of Science at the Tshwane University of Technology (TUT), a position he still holds. As the Executive Dean of Faculty of Science, he is also accountable for the Centre for Tissue Engineering. Currently he is the Acting Campus Rector of all Pretoria Campuses.

Dr DJM Frantzen

Medical Director

Dr Frantzen qualified as an orthopaedic surgeon in 2001 at the University of Pretoria. After this he completed a 2-year fellowship in tumour and infection surgery in the same department, this being his main interest in the field of orthopaedics. From 2003-2006 he was head of the tumour and sepsis unit at the Pretoria Academic hospital orthopaedic department. He joined full time private practice in 2006, specialised in tumour, infection and joint arthroplasty work. Dr Frantzen is still involved in the academic training of pre-and post-graduate students at the University of Pretoria. He has also actively been involved in the outreach and teaching of Orthopaedic trauma in the East, Central and Southern African countries since 2003 in collaboration with the AO Foundation.

He is registered at the HPCSA and is a member of the SAOA, (South African Orthopaedic Association) as well as a fellow of COSECSA (College of surgeons of Eastern Africa).

Mrs Cleo Ndhlovu

General Manager

Ms Cleo Ndhlovu is the General Manager of the Centre for Tissue Engineering. She has over 14 years’ experience in Tissue Engineering & Tissue Banking. She holds a MSc degree in Clinical Research (Donation of Organs, Tissues, and Cells for Transplantation) from the University of Barcelona, a BTech degree in Biotechnology from TUT and a Total Quality Management Diploma from UNISA. Her strong leadership skills and ability to deliver innovative solutions to challenges, has ensured strategic resource utilisation and sturdy organisational growth of the CTE. As GM, she is responsible for the overall strategy and management of the business, including the maintenance of ISO 9001 & 13485 quality management standards.

Ms Rhyleen Chauke

Operations Technologist

Rhyleen obtained a National Diploma and B-Tech Degree in Biotechnology at TUT and is currently studying towards obtaining a Post Graduate Diploma in Total Quality Management at UNISA. She joined the CTE in 2009 as Quality Control assistant and from there proceeded to gain valuable experience in all quality related matters. Her current duties as Quality Management Representative (QMR) includes ensuring that the Quality Management System is maintained and continually improves its effectiveness in accordance with ISO 13485 and 9001 standards.

Ms Tshego Nkontlha

Quality & Compliance Practitioner

Ms Tshego Nkontlha joined the Centre for Tissue Engineering in 2014. She holds a B-Tech qualification in Pharmaceutical Sciences and a National Diploma in Biotechnology from TUT. In addition to her academic achievements, she has also acquired certificates in Quality Management Systems (ISO 9001), Risk Management for ISO 9001, and current Good Manufacturing Practices (cGMP). With over 10 years in Quality Assurance, she has gained extensive industry experience in sectors as varied as osteogenic biomaterials, radiopharmaceuticals, medical devices and diagnostics. Her strong quality background in the healthcare field ensures that the Centre provides a consistently high standard of safe, quality human tissue allografts.

Ms Hildah Ramorulana

Senior Administrator

Ms Hildah Ramorulana joined the Centre for Tissue Engineering at the beginning of 2015, after working for the Tshwane University of Technology from 2008. Hildah holds a B. Com Degree in Financial Management from UNISA and recently completed a B. Com Honours Degree in Business Management at UNISA. In addition to her academic accomplishments, she also acquired a Pastel Accounting certificate and an advanced computer literacy certificate. She has over 10 years of experience in financial management with her scope of work including: Overall supervision of the designated Administration Department, managing of finances including preparation of budgets, creation of financial statements with a view to determine profit and/ or loss. She also manages all purchase invoices, payments, sales invoices, accounts receivable as well as ensuring protection and security of confidential files and records.

Mr Marais Steyn

Tissue Procurement Supervisor

During his previous 10 years of tissue banking experience, Marais obtained a Graduate diploma in Tissue banking from the National University of Singapore as well as a Tissue banking and advanced tissue and cell banking diploma from TPM at the University of Barcelona (2009). He joined the CTE in 2012 and recently completed an Eye banking, Cornea procurement and Laminar processing of cornea for transplantation course by International Sight Restoration, USA. As Procurement Technologist his strong ethical conviction, integrity, loyalty and a firm belief that organ and tissue donation is a matter of the heart, keeps him grounded.

Human tissue donation and transplantation offer patients in need a wonderful opportunity at restorative health and quality of life; that would otherwise have been impossible.

People from every walk of life depend on organ and tissue donations, regardless of race, origin, religion or language.

The need for organ and tissue transplantation is great yet impossible to overcome without people who, despite the pain and absolute finality of death, still find it within themselves to make the decision to help others in need.

Despite the fact that a person may be registered as a donor, SA law requires that the next-of-kin sign consent for the donation at the time of death. It is therefore vital that family members discuss donation well in advance to ensure that their wishes are fulfilled.

There are numerous myths surrounding the donation and retrieval process. Some people might think it is against their religion to donate, or worry that the procedure is disfiguring. Others wonder about the cost involved, or who in fact will benefit from their loved one’s donation. Even others think their loved one was too young, too old, or too sick to be a donor. The information provided on this platform is designed to address these questions.

Everyone is a potential donor, and tissue is generally retrieved from people between 15 and 80 years, but cornea and heart valves can also be retrieved from small children.

The public is encouraged to discuss their thoughts about tissue donation with members of their family. Physicians and medical caregivers are encouraged to become familiar with the various donation possibilities and to pay close attention to the wishes of the family. Although not an easy task, offering the option to donate to a bereaved family often brings comfort in a seemingly hopeless situation, through the knowledge that their loved ones live on by way of helping others. The majority of religions support donation as a final act of compassion and generosity, and a means of showing love for another individual.

Although thousands of patients receive tissue transplants annually, there is still a great deal of ignorance around the fact that donors are required, and that the selfless gift of one donor can enable doctors to treat up to 65 or more patients.

What tissue can be donated?

Eye tissue donation

Cornea and sclera (white of the eye) – donation of eye tissue facilitates corneal and sclera transplantation.

The cornea is the thin clear tissue which covers the coloured part of the eye (iris) and pupil. It allows light to pass through to the retina allowing sight. When problems develop in the cornea, people’s vision rapidly deteriorates. Disease, infection, injury and scarring can leave the cornea cloudy or distorted, causing vision loss.

Donated eye tissue can prevent blindness and can restore sight to people who are partially or completely blind due to corneal damage following a genetic condition, illness or injury.

Injuries such as injury on duty, for example chemical burns in the eye, or object injury due to a motor vehicle accident can cause severe damage to the cornea, and create a desperate need for corneal transplant.

Many South African patients urgently require corneal transplants but due to the shortage of corneal tissue only a fraction of people are privileged enough to receive the gift of sight.

Skin donation

Only the very top outermost layer of skin (epidermis) is carefully removed from some areas of the donor’s body, to effectively treat burn victims. Uncontrolled shack fires cause life threatening burn wounds to thousands of South Africans every year, most of whom are children. Without donor skin these people suffer agonizing injuries and often face certain death.

Skin grafting has been medically recognised as the most effective way to minimise scarring and promote healing of severe burns. Children particularly need skin grafts as a small burn or scald can cover most of their body, and these skin grafts may prove lifesaving. A burn patient suffering with severe burns may need repeated skin grafts from numerous donors until their burns heal sufficiently.

When skin is donated, only a very thin layer (similar to tissue paper) is removed and the area from which it is retrieved looks like a light graze.

Living tissue donation

Unlike most other tissues, bone tissue can also be donated by living persons – this at the time of hip replacement. The femoral head can be donated to the tissue bank who will remove all the diseased parts of the tissue and then utilise the remaining bone in certain application. This tissue is then used in some Neuro and Orthopaedic procedures to improve quality of life in recipients.

Heart tissue donation

Sometimes, even in the case where the deceased’s heart is no longer beating, the organ may be donated and the aortic and pulmonary valves transplanted to correct a heart abnormality within another patient. Heart tissue donations are often used to repair congenital defects in young children and babies and to replace diseased valves in adults. Heart tissue donation allows transplants that improve or restore the patients’ health and quality of life, and sometimes save lives.

Whilst artificial valves and even certain animal valves can also be used, human heart tissue is preferable because it is more resistant to infection, and can enable the recipient to lead a life without the need for ‘chronic’ blood thinning medication. This factor makes human heart valves safer for women of childbearing age and allows children to lead normal active lives.

Bone and tendon donation

Bone is the second most commonly used donated tissue (only blood is donated and received more regularly). Donated bone and tendons can be grafted to replace bone and ligaments that have been lost as a result of disease, tumours or injury, restoring health and in some cases independence and mobility.

Donation can enhance fracture healing, strengthen hip and knee joint replacements, replace torn ligaments or repair spinal deformities. Donation can also save a limb in a person who has developed cancer and would otherwise be facing limb amputation.

Without these essential transplants, the recipients’ opportunity to lead normal, healthy and active lives would be impossible.

What is the difference between organ and tissue donation?

People from every walk of life depend on organ and tissue donations, regardless of race, origin, religion or language.

Management

Prof Prince Ngobeni

Dr DJM Frantzen

Mrs Cleo Ndhlovu

Ms Rhyleen Chauke

Ms Tshego Nkontlha

Hildah Ramorulana

Mr Marais Steyn

Contact Us

0800 847783

info@tissuedonation.org.za

Centre for Tissue Engineering Building 19 D, CSIR Brummeria Pretoria, 0001

Alternatively you may contact the Organ Donor Foundation on:

Prof Prince Ngobeni

Dr DJM Frantzen

Mrs Cleo Ndhlovu

Ms Rhyleen Chauke

Ms Tshego Nkontlha

Ms Hildah Ramorulana

Mr Marais Steyn

Eye tissue donation

Skin donation

Living tissue donation

Heart tissue donation

Bone and tendon donation

What is the difference between organ and tissue donation?