Previously it was known as Medical University of South Africa (MEDUNSA) and later as a campus of the University of Limpopo.[2] It is named after South African ANC leader Sefako Makgatho.[3] Since its name-change, students have colloquially referred to the institution using the acronym of its current name ("SMU") in a similar fashion to manner in which they used the acronym "MEDUNSA" to refer to the institution prior to the change of name.