Democracy
From practising medicine under apartheid to helping architect a free South Africa's digital infrastructure — Dr. Gajjar has never separated the personal from the political.
Cape Town • South Africa • Est. 1978
Dr. Hasmukh
Gajjar
Medical doctor turned tech pioneer, change-maker, and activist — four decades spinning the wheel at the intersection of medicine, technology, and South Africa's transformation.
"Spin the wheel for others
with no expectations —
it always comes back with interest."
1977
MBChB, UCT
40+
Years of Impact
12
Years, .za Authority
2
Active Ventures
Three themes of a life in service
Transformation
Chairman of Vodacom at the birth of mobile South Africa. Pioneer of Black Economic Empowerment in ICT. The wheel turns when you push it for everyone, not just yourself.
Justice
Not a career choice — a calling. The pivot from medicine to technology was never about profit. It was about who had access, who had power, and how that could change.
Career Journey
Four Decades.
Five Chapters.
A practicing doctor. A country manager for a global software firm. Chairman of South Africa's largest mobile operator. A decade steering the nation's internet naming authority. And still building. Here are the moments that defined the arc.
Medical Doctor — Practising Under Apartheid
Twelve years of medicine in communities that bore the harshest weight of apartheid policy. The injustice was clinical, social, and structural — all at once.
Country Manager — Bridging Medicine and Technology
One of the earliest South African voices to see technology as a lever for equity. Led the country operation for WordPerfect, then Novell, during the democratic transition.
Chairman — Mobile South Africa Is Born
At the helm of Vodacom during its defining years. Helped steer the telecommunications revolution that would connect millions of South Africans for the first time.
Chairman — Governing South Africa's Internet Identity
Served for twelve consecutive years as Chairman of ZADNA, the authority responsible for the .za domain namespace — the address of South Africa's digital presence.
"Spin the wheel for others with no expectations — it always comes back with interest."
— Dr. Hasmukh Gajjar's signature philosophy, lived across four decades
Still Building
Current Ventures
The work continues. Two active ventures reflect the same conviction that has driven everything: technology and knowledge should reach the people who need them most.
Mobilearn
Mobile-first learning infrastructure built for Africa's realities. Mobilearn delivers accessible, affordable digital education to learners who don't have the luxury of a stable internet connection or a laptop. Dr. Gajjar serves as CEO, continuing his lifelong commitment to closing the knowledge gap.
CEO since 2017 • Mobile learning for a connected continent
Medilearn Africa
Where medicine and technology finally meet in service of the continent. Medilearn Africa brings Dr. Gajjar's original training full circle — applying digital tools to medical education and health literacy across African communities that have historically been underserved by both.
Founding Director, 2024 • Medical education reimagined for Africa
Get in Touch
Let's connect.
Whether you're a collaborator, researcher, journalist, policy maker, or a young professional finding your footing — Dr. Gajjar is open to meaningful conversation. Reach out directly.
"Transformation is never a single event — it is a long accumulation of small acts of engagement, of showing up, of staying in the room. I am still in the room. I hope to hear from you."Send an Email