Yandisa Sikweyiya

Dr. Yandisa Sikweyiya is a prominent South African public health researcher and specialist scientist at the Gender and Health Research Unit (GHRU) of the South African Medical Research Council (SAMRC). He is an NRF C2-rated researcher and currently serves as an Honorary Associate Professor at the School of Public Health, University of the Witwatersrand. With over 22 years of experience in public health and social science research, Dr. Sikweyiya has established himself as a thought leader in gender, masculinities, violence prevention, HIV, and research ethics. His research intersects masculinity studies with the dynamics of violence, vulnerability, and HIV, particularly within the South African context. Dr. Sikweyiya’s scholarly output includes over 55 peer-reviewed publications, technical reports, and book chapters. His innovative and interdisciplinary approach explores how cultural and social constructions of masculinities influence health outcomes, particularly related to gender-based violence and sexual health. Dr. Sikweyiya serves on several critical boards and ethics committees, including the DMTS Human Research Ethics Committee and the Institutional Review Board of Innovations for Poverty Action. His ethical expertise complements his research work, ensuring high standards of integrity in health research across local and international contexts. Additionally, he is an editorial board member of the Journal of Bodies, Sexualities, and Masculinities, where he helps shape academic discourse on critical topics related to gender and sexuality. He is currently the principal investigator for major studies such as the Individual Deprivation Measure (IDM) Survey’s qualitative follow-up and a study on masculinity constructions post-Marikana mineworkers' strike. His co-investigator roles span impactful research initiatives: an RCT assessing the Rural Response System to reduce violence against women in Ghana; a combined evaluation of Stepping Stones and Creating Futures in urban South Africa; formative sexual violence prevention research in higher education; and several HIV-related studies among marginalized populations including farm workers in Limpopo. Dr. Sikweyiya’s academic journey includes a PhD in Public Health from the University of the Witwatersrand and a Master’s in Social Science (Health Research Ethics) from the University of KwaZulu-Natal. His work is grounded in critical social science perspectives and informed by years of field research across various regions. By combining scientific rigor with ethical awareness, Dr. Sikweyiya bridges research, advocacy, and practice. His leadership in advancing knowledge on gender, masculinities, and violence makes a lasting contribution to both South African and global public health.