Dr Basil Enicker, Head of the Discipline of Neurosurgery in the School of Medicine at the University of KwaZulu-Natal (UKZN) and Inkosi Albert Luthuli Central Hospital (IALCH), has been appointed President of the College of Neurosurgeons of South Africa.
Enicker, who is also the Scientific Chair of the Society of Neurosurgeons of South Africa, will serve a three-year term from 2026 to 2029.
The College is responsible for maintaining standards in neurosurgical training, examinations, professional development and patient care across South Africa.
Describing his appointment as an honour and privilege, Enicker said he accepted the role with humility and viewed it as a responsibility to serve the neurosurgical community, trainees and patients.
He said he looked forward to working with colleagues across universities and provinces to strengthen specialist training, promote academic excellence, encourage research and innovation, and ensure South Africa continued to produce neurosurgeons of international calibre.
The appointment was announced by the Chief Executive Officer of the Colleges of Medicine of South Africa (CMSA), Professor Eric Buch, who said the organisation looked forward to supporting the incoming president and council during the next triennium.
Enicker has served as a CMSA examiner since 2013 and as convener since 2019. He said his priority would be to build on the work of his predecessors while ensuring the College remained responsive to South Africa’s changing healthcare needs.
Born and raised in Umlazi, south of Durban, Enicker said his interest in medicine was sparked by a fascination with the human brain and nervous system while attending St Francis College in Mariannhill.
A UKZN alumnus, he completed both his undergraduate medical degree and postgraduate specialist training at the University’s Nelson R. Mandela School of Medicine.
His clinical and research interests include pituitary and skull base surgery, paediatric neurosurgery, neuro-trauma and critical care.
Enicker was awarded his doctorate in 2025 for research into paediatric hydrocephalus in KwaZulu-Natal, which examined the burden of the condition and proposed an integrated model to improve patient outcomes.
He said one of the College’s key priorities would be ensuring South Africa has strong specialist training programmes, high educational standards and accredited training posts.
“By expanding training opportunities while maintaining rigorous standards, we are investing in the future of neurosurgery and ensuring that every South African, regardless of where they live, has access to world-class neurosurgical care,” he said.
Congratulating Enicker, UKZN Executive Director of Corporate Relations Dr Normah Zondo said the appointment reflected his leadership, clinical excellence and commitment to advancing neurosurgery in South Africa.
She said the University was proud that one of its academics had been entrusted with leading the profession nationally and wished him success in strengthening neurosurgical training, research and patient care.
