Johannesburg – Dr. Kagiso Moloi, a South African medical doctor who studied Orthodontics – a dental speciality – in the United States, has found his place in the sun in Namibia, where he has a thriving practice.
Born in 1971 in Charterston, Nigel, East of Johannesburg, Dr. Moloi has a story to tell about the will to succeed even if it meant hustling to get ahead.
From selling clothes at mines to owning a minibus taxi, and then studying to be a medical doctor, is the journey Dr. Moloi took to reach his calling.
His story of dealing with challenges began during the apartheid forced removals.
As a young boy, Kagiso’s community was moved to Duduza township in 1974, in 1977 Kagiso started primary school and Secondary School at Esibonelwesihle Senior Secondary School in Duduza.
In 1984, Kagiso was part of the Congress of South African Students (COSAS), which called for Freedom before Education.
His brother, Lucky Mogodi, was a victim of the zero-timed grenades by the apartheid Prime Evil, Eugene De Kock, who, under the Special Branch, killed Student Activists.
Kagiso matriculated at St. Luke’s Senior College, Kyalami, in Midrand, Johannesburg, in 1989.
He enrolled for a National Diploma in Medical Laboratory Technology at the Technikon Witwatersrand ( now University of Johannesburg).
After spending one Semester at Technikon Northern Transvaal (TNT) in Soshanguve.
In Johannesburg, Kagiso lived in Hillbrow at The Sands Hotel in O’Reilley Road, and that is where the hustle intensified to a point of being a Zama-Zama with Godfathers like Bra Stinky Pooe, Bra Zenzi, and Bra Sandi.
After completion of the National Diploma, Kagiso could not secure a job in that field, and he ended up opening a Hair Salon, thus he was a full-on Hairstylist and a Barber.
Later, Kagiso bought a taxi and opened a vegetable corner with his best Friend Phoka Motaung, with whom he started selling goods at the men’s hostels in Duduza and Vlakfontein mine.
This he did for two years, and he decided to go back to University with the money he made from the businesses.
In 1994 he enrolled for the Bachelor’s of Dental Surgery, a five and a half years course at the University of the Western Cape.
Voted for the first Democratic Elections in Ntanga East as the University Residence was just across the Railway Line.
Kagiso was a South African Students Congress (SASCO) activist at the University of the Western Cape and part of the the Student’s Representative Council (UWC SRC).
Every holiday during the factory’s shutdown, he did a holiday job as a Laborer at his father’s workplace, Marley Flooring, in Nigel, to sustain himself throughout the year with pocket money.
He graduated in 1999 June and came back home to open his Surgery in Duduza Township, where he grew up.
Things did not work as planned, as the business was not as good as expected.
The banks were not as kind, so he decided to leave RSA for Namibia, where he joined Dr Nelson Herunga in Oshakati at the Oshakati Dental Practice.
He later moved to Windhoek to join the practice, Katutura, where he simultaneously served Rehoboth Dental Practice as well.
It was here where decided to Study Higher Certificate in Project Management(Cum Laude) from Damelin Management School.
In 2004, he joined the Rhino Park Dental Practice until 2006, and became part of a Group Practice: Drs Aluteni, Moloi & Zulu Dental Practices in Ondangwa, Lubango in Angola, Grootfontein, and Rundu.
In 2009, he graduated with a Post Graduate Diploma in Dental Implantogy from the University of the Western Cape, and also in 2008 had a certificate in Photography.
In 2015, he took a giant leap by purchasing his own property at Kagiso House on 74 John Meinert Street, Windhoek West.
At the same time, he studied in the USA, Phoenix, Arizona, for his Certificate in Orthodontics, a special interest which was introduced to him by Dr. Nkhumeleni in Pretoria much earlier, where he obtained a Basic Orthodontic Course.
Kagiso is married to his University sweetheart, Bawinile Winnie Mkhize-Moloi, a former Lieutenant Colonel in the South African Air Force, and is now the manager of their practice named “Dr. Moloi & Associates” in Windhoek.
The couple has three children: Dimpho-Dintle, who has a Higher Certificate in Architectural Technology
Bachelor’s Degree in Architecture, Wa-Rona, and Oarabile are in the Matriculation year
Since 2016, Kagiso has been on a Solo mission at Dr. Kagiso Moloi & Associates, and continues to improve his skills in Surgery, Orthodontics, and Implant Dentistry by attending courses throughout the world in RSA, USA, Brazil,etc.
Dr. Kagiso Moloi has been in the leadership trail since his days at the University, where he was the Chairperson of the Dental Students’ Association.
He was a member of the South African Dental Association, UWC SRC, the President of the Namibian Dental Association, the Chairperson of the Special Olympics Namibia, and the Chairperson of the Unam School of Dentistry Advisory Board.
His practice has been selected by the Health Professional Councils of Namibia to be a Centre of Excellence to assist the newly graduated to be ready for their Council Exams.
Dr. Moloi is part of the Volunteer Specialists who assist persons with cleft lip and palate under the Nampharm Foundation.
He also participated in the National Outreach Programme of the Ministry of Health and Social Service that made him travel to all 14 regions of Namibia with the team.
In 2012, then President Pohamba appointed him to be the First Family’s Dental Surgeon, which was an Honour it was for him.
He has been a volunteer for Special Olympics Namibia as Clinical Director, dealing with Persons with Intellectual disabilities since 2005.
This led him to travel extensively to places: Greece, Athens, Rhodes Island, Poros Island, USA: New York, Washington DC, South Korea: Seoul, China, Hong Kong, Malawi, Nigeria, etc.
He is presently a Jazz Presenter on Energy 100 fm Radio every Sunday, which started at the Unam Radio in 2004 until 2007, and in 2007 joined National Radio and moved to Energy 100 FM in 2014 until present.
He also hosts Breakfast Health with Dr Kagiso Moloi every Thursday on Energy 100 fm.
He is a resident expert on Dentistry on NBC’s Good Morning Namibia health show, broadcast live on Tuesdays.
He is the Namibian Host of the Unesco’s International Jazz Day, which is hosted on 30 April annually throughout the World.
“Thank you, Namibia, for giving chance to serve you. I love you, Namibia,” says Dr. Moloi.
