PROF MAHARAJ SECURES HISTORIC FIRST C1 NRF RATING FOR WALTER SISULU

Professor Ajesh Basantharan Maharaj has become iYunivesithi Walter Sisulu’s first researcher to receive a C1 rating from the National Research Foundation (NRF), recognising his sustained scholarly contributions to the international rheumatology community.

Evaluated by local and international peers, an NRF C1 rating recognises a researcher whose work has consistently demonstrated sustained productivity, quality and impact.

Maharaj’s rating casts a spotlight on his dedication to advancing the understanding and treatment of rheumatic diseases, while bringing African patients and their healthcare needs into global research discussions.

“Personally, it represents growth, perseverance, and the reward of remaining committed to my goals. Professionally, this achievement reflects my commitment to excellence, continuous development, and maintaining high standards in my work. It motivates me to keep improving, embrace new challenges, and use the knowledge and experience I have gained to make a positive contribution to my team and organisation,” said Maharaj.

As of 2026, Maharaj is the only rheumatologist from sub-Saharan Africa who is a member of the Assessment of Spondyloarthritis International Society (ASAS), an international body focused on advancing research and assessment in spondyloarthritis.

Amongst many other roles, Maharaj also serves as Global co-chair of the Group for Research and Assessment of Psoriasis and Psoriatic Arthritis (GRAPPA) comorbidities treatment recommendations committee.

“My journey in rheumatology research has been shaped by a commitment to improving the understanding, diagnosis and management of rheumatic diseases, particularly in populations whose experiences and healthcare needs are often underrepresented in international research. Serving on the Steering Committee of GRAPPA has been an important milestone in this journey,” said Maharaj.

Maharaj asserted that his involvement with GRAPPA has reinforced his appreciation for multidisciplinary research.

“Psoriatic arthritis is a complex condition that requires collaboration across rheumatology, dermatology, imaging, epidemiology, and other disciplines. Engaging with experts in these areas has strengthened my appreciation of collaborative research,” he said.

South Africa and the rest of the continent face multiple challenges that include shortages of specialist healthcare professionals, delayed diagnosis, limited access to treatment, inadequate research funding and, the underrepresentation of African patients in global research.

For Maharaj, addressing this gap means that African patients must actively participate in generating scientific knowledge.

“I aim to strengthen the African evidence base by advancing research that addresses clinically relevant questions, documents patients' experiences and outcomes in our setting, and contributes African perspectives to international scientific discussions,” said Maharaj.

For Walter Sisulu, Maharaj’s C1 rating highlights the institution’s development of researchers whose work is recognised beyond the institution, and contribution to the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goal 3, which speaks to healthy lives and well-being for populations.

The achievement also advances the ambitions of Vision 2040+, particularly its One Health signature theme, which recognises the interconnectedness of human, animal and environmental health and reinforces the role of research in addressing complex health challenges.

“Our responsibility as African researchers is not simply to participate in global science, but to help shape it, to generate knowledge that improves the lives of our patients, strengthens our healthcare systems and ensures that Africa is recognised not only as a source of research data, but as a leader in scientific innovation and discovery,” he said.

Despite a decorated career, Maharaj believes he still has more to do in his field, including the expansion of multicentre research across Africa, as well as developing the next generation of African rheumatology researchers.

“My ambition is to contribute to building a sustainable African rheumatology research network that generates evidence relevant to our populations, develops African research leaders and influences clinical practice and health policy. The goal is not simply to increase the volume of research produced in Africa, but to ensure that Africa becomes a recognised contributor to global rheumatology research, with African researchers leading the generation of knowledge about diseases that affect our own populations,” said Maharaj.

By Yanga Ziwele