Thembelihle Zwane
10 October 2025
In South Africa, one in three people will face a mental health challenge in their lifetime. Among those leading the charge to change this is Dr. Thabo Mogotlane, training to become one of the country’s first black addiction psychiatrists.
Growing up in rural Mabopane, Dr. Mogotlane’s early life was shaped by his mother and grandmother who instilled the value of education despite limited means. Initially aiming to become a nurse to support his family, his path shifted during an internship at Thabamoopo Psychiatric Hospital, where he discovered a passion for psychiatry’s complex interplay of brain, behavior, and healing.
Now based at Stikland Hospital in Cape Town, South Africa’s only center offering addiction training, Dr. Mogotlane balances rigorous studies funded by the Discovery Foundation with pioneering research on the impact of COVID-19 lockdowns on alcohol dependence.
He emphasizes that addiction is not an isolated issue but one that impacts entire families and communities. “Psychiatrists often treat symptoms without addressing addiction—the root cause,” he says.
South Africa faces a growing crisis: nearly half of teenagers consume alcohol, and drug dependency starts as young as 12. Yet mental health services receive less than 5% of public health funding.
Dr. Mogotlane’s holistic approach integrates psychiatry with social support, viewing every patient as a unique story to uncover. His journey—from humble beginnings to groundbreaking specialist—reflects resilience and hope for a transformed mental health future in South Africa.
As World Mental Health Month shines a light on these urgent issues, Dr. Mogotlane’s work reminds us that healing begins with understanding—and that change depends on courageous voices like his.
