Welcome to the South African Nephrology Society

President’s Letter – South African Nephrology Society (SANS), 2026

Dear Colleagues,

It is with great pride that I write to you on behalf of the South African Nephrology Society (SANS). Over the past year our community has remained active across research, education, policy engagement, and international collaboration, despite ongoing pressures within the health system including workforce constraints, frozen posts in parts of the public sector, and persistent service delivery challenges.

Encouragingly, the South African nephrology community continues to contribute meaningfully to the global literature, with members actively publishing and engaging in research across all areas of nephrology. This strong academic engagement continues to foster and expand both our national and international collaborations.

Below is a brief overview of key developments.

ISPD–SANS–RCSSA Congress 2026

A major highlight for the coming year will be the 18th International Congress of the International Society for Peritoneal Dialysis (ISPD), which will take place in Cape Town from 28 September to 3 October 2026. This will be the first ISPD Congress held on the African continent, representing an important milestone for nephrology in our region.

The congress theme, “Integration: PD for Everyone, by Everyone, Everywhere,” reflects the growing recognition that peritoneal dialysis can play a critical role in expanding access to kidney replacement therapy globally. The meeting will be held at the Cape Town International Convention Centre and will bring together clinicians, nurses, allied health professionals, researchers, and policy leaders from around the world.

The congress will be hosted in conjunction with the South African Nephrology Society (SANS) and the Renal Care Society of South Africa (RCSSA) and will include an African Advocacy Forum focused on strengthening kidney care across the continent. This meeting will provide an exceptional opportunity for scientific exchange, collaboration, and engagement with colleagues from across the international nephrology community. We very much hope that many of our members will seize this opportunity to participate in what promises to be a truly landmark meeting for nephrology in Africa, and we encourage strong representation from across our community.

In parallel with this work, a Peritoneal Dialysis White Paper, led by Prof Brett Cullis, is being developed to outline strategies for expanding access to PD programmes in South Africa and similar health systems.

Commitment to Paediatric Nephrology

SANS remains deeply committed to working alongside our paediatric nephrology colleagues, recognising that strengthening kidney care across the lifespan requires close collaboration between adult and paediatric services. In this regard, we would like to acknowledge the successful International Pediatric Nephrology Association (IPNA) Congress, recently hosted under the leadership of Prof Mignon McCulloch, which was an outstanding scientific and collaborative achievement for South Africa.

The meeting highlighted the strength of paediatric nephrology in our region and provided an important platform for international engagement, education, and research collaboration. We were also particularly encouraged by the Adolescent Transition Workshop, which was extremely well attended and underscored the importance of improving structured transition from paediatric to adult nephrology services — an area that will remain an important focus moving forward.

Policy Engagement and Advocacy

SANS continues to engage actively with the National Department of Health on a number of initiatives aimed at strengthening kidney care in South Africa. These engagements have included participation in the Health Systems Improvement Forum, ongoing discussions around organ donation and transplantation initiatives, and advocacy for the development of Kidney Paired Donation (KPD) programmes.

We have also participated in discussions regarding public-sector dialysis allocation and selection processes, bringing together clinicians, ethicists, private sector representatives, and provincial stakeholders to support fair and transparent decision-making.

In addition, members of SANS have contributed to the development of a Roadmap for Kidney Care in South Africa, which outlines strategic priorities for improving kidney disease prevention, early detection, and equitable access to treatment. This work provides an important framework for future advocacy and health system planning.

Continental and International Collaboration

Our collaboration with the African Association of Nephrology (AFRAN) and ISN continues to grow, and SANS remains engaged in regional initiatives that support training, research, and knowledge exchange across the continent. We also continue to support the African Journal of Nephrology, under the editorship of Prof Alain Assounga, which remains an important platform for African scholarship.

Guidelines and Essential Medicines Advocacy

The SANS Guidelines Committee, chaired by Prof Malcolm Davies, continues to advance evidence-based kidney care. The committee is currently engaged in discussions around emerging lupus nephritis guidelines, an important priority given the burden of disease in our region.

In addition, SANS is advocating for the inclusion of SGLT2 inhibitors for chronic kidney disease on the Essential Medicines List (EML), which could significantly expand access to kidney-protective therapies in the public sector.

South African Renal Registry

The South African Renal Registry, under the leadership of Prof Razeen Davids, remains a critical national resource. The registry continues to provide valuable insights into dialysis access, treatment patterns, and disparities in kidney care. These data play an important role in informing policy and guiding advocacy efforts.

Training and Workforce Development

Training and capacity development remain key priorities for the Society. Our members continue to contribute to specialist training and examinations through the Colleges of Medicine of South Africa, and several academic centres continue to host ISN fellows, supporting regional training and knowledge exchange.

Efforts are underway to strengthen the nephrology training curriculum and the Certificate in Nephrology examination, ensuring continued alignment of training programmes with evolving clinical needs.

Organisational Health

The Society remains financially stable and continues to function as a registered non-governmental organisation. We are grateful to the team at Turners for their ongoing administrative support.

Looking Ahead

While important challenges remain, including workforce shortages, infrastructure constraints, and increasing demand for kidney replacement therapy, the South African nephrology community continues to demonstrate extraordinary commitment to patient care, research, and advocacy.

The upcoming ISPD Congress in Cape Town will provide a unique opportunity to showcase the strength of nephrology in South Africa and across the African continent while building global partnerships aimed at advancing kidney care for our patients. We look forward to welcoming you and to a stimulating and engaging meeting.

Thank you to our dedicated Executive Committee, our members, and our national and international partners for their continued support.

Warm regards,

Prof Nicola Wearne
President, South African Nephrology Society (SANS)

Dr Nina Diana
Secretary, South African Nephrology Society (SANS)