Division of Rheumatology, Dept of Medicine (UCT)
World-class rheumatology care, teaching, and research at the University of Cape Town — and a trusted evidence-based resource for healthcare workers across South Africa.
Our Vision
Our vision is taken from the song of Liverpool football club supporters, because we want anyone who has had contact with Rheumatology to feel our impact.
For many, illness is a bewildering and lonely experience. For sufferers of arthritis and rheumatological diseases, the frustration of being unable to perform daily activities, combined with pain and stiffness, is isolating. Sometimes reaching a diagnosis is a long tortuous journey. Being given the diagnosis of a chronic rheumatic disease may lead to feelings of being overwhelmed, confusion and anxiety.
It’s also lonely to be a healthcare worker faced with a clinical problem without a clear approach to diagnosis or management, and without a clear referral pathway.
We want to be there as you walk with us. We can walk the difficult miles and the extra miles together.
Meet the division →Our Goals
Our work spans three areas — the care we give patients, the healthcare workers we train, and the research we produce.
Musculoskeletal and rheumatic diseases are a major health problem due to their high prevalence, and their negative social and economic impact on patients and their communities. Resource constraints and poor infrastructure magnify the burden of illness and disability, and endemic tuberculosis and HIV infections offer complex therapeutic challenges. The Rheumatology Division at Groote Schuur Hospital serves as a major tertiary referral centre in the Western Cape, with outreach programmes extending into the Eastern Cape.
Our goal is for any patient who has attended our clinical services to
The Rheumatology unit is a training centre for undergraduate medical students, primary health care practitioners, nurses, allied healthcare practitioners, and postgraduate specialists-in-training — physicians and rheumatologists from South Africa and elsewhere on the African continent.
Our goal is to empower healthcare workers to
Rheumatology is committed to pursuing new clinical and basic science knowledge and translating these research findings into more effective diagnosis and treatment of patients with rheumatic and immunologic diseases.
Our research goals are to
Who We Serve
From practical clinical guidelines for a GP in practice to patient-friendly explanations and research collaboration — the Division is here for you.
Our primary resource hub — built for GPs, nurses, physiotherapists, and occupational therapists managing RMDs across South Africa.
Plain-language information about rheumatic conditions, what to expect from care, and connections to patient support groups across South Africa.
The conditions we diagnose and manage, when each outpatient clinic runs and where, and the hospitals we visit beyond Groote Schuur.
Undergraduate teaching, registrar training and the two-year subspecialty fellowship — with the recorded seminars and films behind them.
Explore our research focus areas, current studies, and published work. We welcome collaboration with national and international academic partners.
World-class academic excellence, placed in the hands of every healthcare worker who needs it — wherever they practise across South Africa.
Why Trust Us
The Division of Rheumatology sits within one of Africa's leading research universities, with internationally recognised academic standing and a deep commitment to South Africa's healthcare landscape.
UCT Affiliation
Grounded in the University of Cape Town — ranked among the top universities in Africa and recognised internationally for research excellence
NRF-Rated Researchers
Division staff hold National Research Foundation ratings, reflecting peer-recognised research impact at national and international levels
International Society Memberships
Active membership in leading international rheumatology societies, ensuring our practice and teaching reflects global standards
Locally Tailored Guidance
Our resources are designed for South Africa's healthcare context — evidence-based, practical, and accessible to frontline workers in any setting