Bertha Gxowa Hospital CEO honoured at 2026 Influential Awards

The chief executive officer of Bertha Gxowa Hospital in Germiston, Lebohang Precious Khumalo, was named one of the top influential women in the country at the Influential Awards 2026.

Presented by Big M Productions, the awards were hosted on August 15, where Khumalo was honoured with a trophy and certificate.

She was recognised among South Africa’s Top 100 Influential Honorees of 2026 for her leadership, impact, and enduring contribution to society, an achievement she describes as the highlight of her career.

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She admitted that when she first received the nomination email, she was hesitant to share her personal information because she was unfamiliar with the brand.

“I was shocked to receive the nomination, mainly because I am used to working quietly in my own corner.”

Khumalo said: “This is not only a recognition for me, but an opportunity to open doors for networking. Already, one of the recipients has contacted me to join her for a sanitary pad drive handover.”

Beyond her executive duties, Khumalo is part of the Motheo Foundation’s Understanding Your Worth initiative, which aims to empower young girls.

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She also served on the Ekurhuleni and Gauteng Aids councils.

Khumalo remains a distinguished healthcare executive, board leader, and advocate for professional excellence, with a career spanning over two decades in South Africa’s public healthcare sector.

Khumalo has built a reputation for visionary leadership and strategic governance.

Since joining the facility, she has also been instrumental in opening the Dr Clarence Mini Hall and the Mental Health Clinic.

Her journey to becoming a CEO was not without its challenges.

Raised in Kwa-Thema, she learned early on to stand her ground, influenced by her family’s strong political heritage.

Her father was a mineworker and her grandfather served as a mayor in Kwa-Thema during the Bantustan era. These men taught her to speak her mind and maintain her own identity.

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She matriculated at Benoni Educational College, where she was appointed a prefect within two weeks, and later attended the University of South Africa (UNISA), joining SASCO while pursuing a Bachelor of Social Science.

During this time, she gained early community experience working with NICRO on offender rehabilitation and with Families South Africa (FAMSA) providing relationship counselling.

Her inspiration to enter healthcare stemmed from her mother’s prolonged hospital stays, where Khumalo fell in love with the profession.

In 2003, she registered as a student nurse at Ann Latsky Nursing College and later began her training at OR Tambo Hospital, experiencing the demanding realities of public healthcare firsthand.

“For the whole year my mother was in and out of the hospital, and the doctors could not figure out what was wrong with her. During that time, I would visit her, and I think that is when I fell in love with nursing. The hospital environment inspired me to join the healthcare profession.”

After completing her nursing qualifications, Khumalo began her career at Kwa-Thema Clinic, running mobile clinics in underprivileged communities and helping launch the Central Chronic Medicine Dispensing and Distribution programme for HIV/Aids patients.

“Starting from the bottom was a journey filled with rewarding moments where you connect with people on the ground,” she recalled.

“It taught me how to work with people from diverse backgrounds and realise that healthcare is a collaborative effort.”

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Over the years, Khumalo steadily advanced her qualifications and executive roles.

From 2012 to 2013, she completed her specialty in Primary Healthcare.

In 2016, she joined Wits RHI before moving to Pholosong Hospital in 2017 as operational manager for OPD, where she established a wound clinic within the outpatient department.

In 2020, she served as acting CEO at Heidelberg Hospital for 18 months before moving to Tembisa Hospital to lead quality improvement initiatives.

In March 2022, she was appointed CEO of Bertha Gxowa Hospital.

Managing Bertha Gxowa Hospital presented unique operational demands due to its diverse catchment area, which spans Bedfordview, Edenvale, Lambton, Germiston, and the Makause Informal Settlement.

To foster excellence internally, Khumalo introduced the CEO Special Award to recognise continuously improving staff members across all hospital departments.

“The hospital’s internal CEO Special Award recognises the most improved employee at the hospital. The selection of the recipient is challenging, as the evaluation spans all departments.

“I am not looking for people who are already doing exceptionally well, those are typically nominated by their own units,” explained Khumalo.

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“I am looking for people who are continuously improving and striving to do better all the time. People wonder how I find the time to select the winner, but I make a point of walking around the entire hospital to observe for myself.”

Her contributions have earned her numerous accolades, including the CEO Special Award in 2022, the Bertha Gxowa Visionary Leader Award in 2025, and the GEMS Symposium Honoree Award.

A lifelong learner, Khumalo holds a Diploma in Healthcare Professions and Leadership from the Foundation for Professional Development, an Advanced Certificate in Project Management from the University of KwaZulu-Natal, and is a Certified Director through the Institute of Directors South Africa. She is currently pursuing an MBA in Healthcare Management and holds a postgraduate diploma from the University of Pretoria in health systems management-executive leadership.

In addition to her executive role, Khumalo served as regional secretary for DENOSA for 11 years and currently serves as its Gauteng provincial treasurer.

She also sits on the Board of Directors for the Government Employees Medical Scheme (GEMS), where she is currently serving her second term.

Reflecting on her recognition, Khumalo expressed gratitude for her support system, including her life partner, two children, and grandchild, as well as her dedicated hospital staff.

“This came at a time when the timing couldn’t have been better, especially during Women’s Month,” said Khumalo.

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“The staff came together to celebrate me with flowers and gifts. This award lifts our spirits and encourages the younger generation to empower themselves, support one another, and keep reaching higher,” said Khumalo.