Sagwati Pearl Sebapu
Occupational Therapy Degree, AMA Guides, (MBA), ErgoScience, Health Sector Mediation, Management Coaching
I started my career as a Community Service Occupational Therapist in Limpopo after having received a merit scholarship to study at the University of Jonkoping (Sweden) in the final year of my undergraduate studies through the University of Limpopo. I have been working in the area of vocational rehabilitation, medico-legal assessments (i.e. Road Accident Fund, Medical Negligence and other Civil Claims) and functional capacity evaluations since completing my community service in 2007.
I obtained a Certificate in Labour Law obtained through UNISA in 2009. I further graduated with a Masters in Business Administration from UNISA School of Business Leadership in 2014. I am CAMAG (ABIME) certified in line with the AMA Guidelines used by the Road Accident Fund and am ErgoScience Trained. I have acquired specialised knowledge in diseases/illness/injury management and the impact thereof on functional capacity. I have extensive knowledge and experience in standardised testing, intervention strategies, labour issues related to capacity/incapacity, ill-heath retirement, functional capacity evaluation, work evaluation, report writing, vocational rehabilitation, work hardening, return to work programmes and ergonomics. I am sort after expert in the area of Ergonomics having worked extensively with numerous government departments. I am further involved in Case Management which involves working with insurers to manage their various cases.
I have also been involved with the Compensation Fund and several insurance companies in the field of functional capacity evaluations. I am highly knowledgeable and experienced in Third Party Assessments / Medical Negligence and a sound court expert having worked on ±5500 matters. This led to an interest in mediation. I trained as a Mediator in 2017 and have been part of the South African Medico-Legal Association (SAMLA) mediation pilot project in 2020 and 2021.
I run my private practice with several branches country wide (see attached company profile) specialising in medico-legal and functional capacity reporting. I am also Director of Iketsetse Health Management Solutions which specialises in functional capacity evaluations as well as provides workplace solutions for employees with disabilities.
I am involved in student training through the University of Pretoria having previously been appointed as an external examiner. I speak at industry related conferences and workshops and look forward to my next speaking engagement in January 2022.
EXPERIENCE
- January 2016 – Current Managing Director – Sebapu Investment Solutions
- June 2013 – Current Managing Director – Iketsetse Health Management Solutions
- June 2009 – Current Managing Director / Owner – Sagwati Sebapu Occupational Therapists Pty Ltd
- January 2009 – Current Sessional Lecturer / External Examiner – University of Pretoria
- September 2007 to May 2009 Occupational Therapist – Vlok and Smit Occupational Therapists
- January 2006 – August 2007 Community Service / Junior Occupational Therapist – Limpopo Dept. of Health, Mecklenburg Hospital
EDUCATION AND TRAINING
- Jan 2002 – Dec 2005 | University of Limpopo, (Medunsa), SA | Bachelor Degree in Occupational Therapy
- 2008 – 2009 | UNISA | Certificate in Labour Law
- 2010 | American Medical Association | AMA Guides certified
- 2010 – 2013 | UNISA (SBL) | Master of Business Administration (MBA)
- 2014 | Skills Basket | ErgoScience Practitioner Accreditation
- 2017 | UCT Law @ Work and Mediation in Motion | Medical Negligence & Health Sector Mediation Training
- 2020 | University of Cape Town | Executive and Management Coaching
PROFESSIONAL REGISTRATIONSEDUCATION AND TRAINING
- Health Professional Council of South Africa (HPCSA)2006
- Occupational Therapy Association of South Africa (OTASA) 2008
- Board of Health Care Funders (BHF) 2012
- South African Medical Legal Association (SAMLA)2015
- Mediation in Motion (MiM) 2017
LANGUAGES
- English
- Afrikaans
- Xitsonga
- Sepedi
- Isizulu
- Setswana
- Tshivenda
- Sesotho
PROFESSIONAL COMPETENCIES
- Qualified and Experienced Occupational Therapist (OT)
- Interpersonal Communication
- Provision of Advice and Training
- Motivation and Leadership
- Comfortable Working as Part of a Team or Independently
- Problem Solving
- Committed to Professional Development
- Excellent report writing skills
- Sound work ethics
- Hard working
- Excellent Clinical Skills
- Diligent
- Though leader
- Case management
