OVERVIEW
DIVISION OF BIOSAFETY AND BIOSECURITY
The Division of Biosafety and Biosecurity (DBB) performs a transversal function at the NICD and is comprised of a multidisciplinary team of biocontainment engineering and BioRisk management specialists. The Division is responsible for the oversight and advancement of institutional BioRisk management systems and infrastructure.
DBB oversees the daily operation, maintenance, certification, and strategic development of the institute’s Biosafety Level 3 (BSL-3) and Biosafety Level 4 (BSL-4) facilities. In addition to technical oversight, the Division plays a critical role in capacity building through the delivery of accredited and custom training programmes in biosafety, biosecurity, and biocontainment.
The Division boasts a highly skilled and dedicated team of biocontainment engineers and artisans, BioRisk management specialists, and administrative professionals who support the implementation of national and regional biosafety and biosecurity priorities.
OBJECTIVES
DIVISION OF BIOSAFETY AND BIOSECURITY
To oversee the daily operation, maintenance, upgrading, (re)certification and development of the NICD’s high and maximum containment facilities (i.e. BSL3 and BSL4 facilities), in accordance with current local and international biosafety and biosecurity guidelines, regulations and best practices.
To champion the continual improvement of biosafety and biosecurity policy, procedure and implementation at the NICD in order to allow for compliance with national and international regulations as they may apply and in support of the Institutional Biosafety and Biosecurity Committee’s (IBBC) initiatives.
This is executed through:
- The maintenance and support of the safe and secure operation of high and maximum containment infrastructure.
- The facilitation of field-specific training activities and co-ordination of the Regional Diagnostic Demonstration Centre (RDDC) training activities.
FUNCTIONS
- Overseeing the daily operation, maintenance, upgrading, (re)certification and development of high and maximum containment facilities (i.e. BSL3 and BSL4 facilities);
- Provision of expert advice and guidance in the design, budgeting, construction, upgrading and maintenance of high and maximum containment facilities;
- Formulation and management of capital expenditure budgets for infrastructural and biocontainment system upgrade projects, including mobile laboratory infrastructure for outbreak response.
- Provision of technical support for the implementation of the NICD Institutional Biosafety and Biosecurity Committee’s (IBBC) initiatives;
- Driving the development and updating of institutional biorisk management manuals, training programmes and emergency response plans, including procedures for shipping and receipt of biological and hazardous materials.
- Coordination and support of biorisk management related activities at the NICD, including Biorisk management training and mentorship.
- Promoting a shared culture of responsibility, reducing dual use risks, mitigation of biological proliferation and deliberate use threats, and to ensure safe transfer of biological materials.
The mission of the Regional Demonstration Diagnostic Centre (RDDC) is to enhance laboratory capabilities on the African continent to build capacity for dealing with infectious disease pandemics, whilst promoting a culture of laboratory safety and security to minimise the risks of accidental environmental exposure and intentional misuse. To this end, the RDDC has been certified by the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) as the first Regional Centre of Excellence for Biosafety and Biosecurity (RCoEBB) in the Africa region offering courses specified under Africa CDCs’ Regional Training and Certification Program for Biosafety and Biosecurity Professionals.
Objectives:
- The promotion of laboratory-based diagnostics to ensure that accessible and sustainable training is available to laboratory professionals on the African continent;
- To develop field-specific competencies and to build BioRisk Management (BRM) capacity that allows individuals to implement innovative and effective solutions in resource constrained environments;
- To serve as a collaborator to develop international partnerships and networks for enhancing laboratory-based diagnostics and BRM.
LEADERSHIP AND TEAM
DIVISION OF BIOSAFETY AND BIOSECURITY
Centre HEAD: Dr Jacqueline Weyer
Dr Jacqueline Weyer is a Principal Medical Scientist at the Centre for Emerging and Zoonotic Diseases at the National Institute for Communicable Diseases.
Here she leads a team of scientists tasked with the laboratory investigation (diagnostics and research) of human rabies, viral heamorrhagic fevers and other emerging zoonotic disease of concern to the health of the South African public.
Weyers completed her PhD in Microbiology at the University of Pretoria and was employed as a Research Fellow with the Rabies Unit of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in Atlanta Georgia from 2004 to 2005. In 2006 she was awarded the L’Oreal-UNESCO, Department of Science and Technology Woman in Science Award: PhD Fellowship for Life Sciences. And in 2018 she was awarded the degree Master of Public Health, cum laude from the Sefako Makgatho Health Sciences University in South Africa.
In the past 10-years, Weyers has authored and co-authored more than 40 scientific papers in peer-reviewed journals, and seven chapters in books, and achieved a National Research Foundation C2 rating in 2017. Jacqueline has been appointed as Extraordinary Lecturer at the University of Pretoria and has been involved in supervision of 14 BSc Hons or MSc research studies, one MPH and four PhD students.
In 2020, she was appointed as Lecturer in the School of Pathology at the University of the Witwatersrand. She serves on several national committees and working groups pertaining to laboratory biosafety and biosecurity, rabies and other zoonoses, One Health. Her interests include the laboratory diagnostics, epidemiology, pathogenesis and host interactions of rabies virus and other zoonotic viral pathogens that cause disease of public health importance in South Africa.
Biosafety technical team
Administrator
Khumbudzo Mbengwa
Tel: 011 555 0405
email: KhumbudzoM@nicd.ac.za
Biosafety Technician
Gunther Meier
Email: guntherm@nicd.ac.za
Biosafety Technician
Ronny Sebaka
Email: ronnys@nicd.ac.za
Assistant Biosafety Technician
Thendo Netshilema
Email: thendon@nicd.ac.za
Assistant Biosafety Technician
Zacharia Mabena
Email: zachariam@nicd.ac.za
Biorisk Management, GLLP and RDDC Team
Biorisk Specialist
Wayne Howard
Email: wayneh@nicd.ac.za
Biorisk Specialist
Noluthando Duma
Email:NoluthandoD@nicd.ac.za
Biorisk Specialist
Anastasia Trataris-Rebisz
Email: anastasian@nicd.ac.za
Regional Diagnostic Demonstration Centre (RDDC)
Africa CDC Regional Centre of Excellence for Biosafety and Biosecurity
The Regional Diagnostic Demonstration Centre (RDDC), headquartered at the National Institute for Communicable Diseases (NICD) in Johannesburg, is the first Africa CDC-designated Regional Centre of Excellence for Biosafety and Biosecurity on the continent.
Launched in partnership with the Africa CDC and the United States Defense Threat Reduction Agency (DTRA), and officially opened by South Africa’s Minister of Health, Dr Joe Phaahla, in December 2022, the RDDC serves as a flagship facility for specialized training, technical demonstration, and regional capacity building.
Originally conceptualized following South Africa’s frontline role during the West African Ebola outbreak, the RDDC has since become a continental hub for strengthening biosafety and biosecurity systems across Africa. Its state-of-the-art infrastructure supports academic instruction, hands-on laboratory simulation, and operational readiness for biological threat response — including viral hemorrhagic fevers and emerging infectious diseases.
The RDDC is a core asset of the DBB, hosting the Africa CDC Regional Training and Certification Programmes for Biosafety and Biosecurity Professionals, and delivering more than 16 distinct training courses since January 2022.
Training modules include:
- BioRisk management and hazard communication Emergency preparedness and response
- Dual-use oversight and bioinformatics
- Specimen shipping and secure laboratory practices
The Centre also supports national efforts under WHO’s International Health Regulations (IHR), contributes to outbreak preparedness in the Southern African region, and forms part of a pilot model for replication in other African regions.
Backed by Canada, the United States, and African stakeholders, the RDDC reflects South Africa’s commitment to building a safer, more secure continent through biosafety, biosecurity, and laboratory excellence.
Key Achievements
Designated as the "Regional Centre of Excellence for Biosafety and Biosecurity"
Conducted more than 16 different training courses since January 2024
Developing regional and continent-wide certification programs
Training both South African and regional professionals to increase capacity
Strengthening laboratory capacity across the continent
Supporting South Africa as a regional leader in biosafety
Training Programs
The RDDC offers a variety of training courses designed to strengthen Africa’s capacity to respond to disease outbreaks and biosecurity threats. Our programs cater to both South African and regional audiences.
BioRisk Management
- Risk assessment methodologies
- Biosafety containment practices
- Laboratory security measures
Risk & Hazard Communication
- Crisis communication planning
- Public health messaging
- Stakeholder engagement
Outbreak Response
- Rapid response team training
- Field epidemiology
- PPE usage and protocols
To enquiry about our training programs, click here.
History of the RDDC
2014: Ebola Outbreak Response
The genesis for the RDDC follows the NICD’s deployment of their mobile laboratory unit to Sierra Leone during the West African Ebola outbreak. South Africa was quick to mobilize from the NICD when Ebola emerged, but health teams faced challenges working in environments requiring extensive personal protective equipment.
2015: Partnership Formation
Following the outbreak, African stakeholders such as the Africa CDC identified gaps and vulnerabilities and developed plans to strengthen zoonotic disease response on the continent. By 2015, DTRA partnered with South Africa to enable their commitment to strengthening laboratory capacity on the continent and prevent future zoonotic disease outbreaks. This partnership recognized South Africa as a regional leader and global partner in improving human and animal health security, making it a top-priority partner for DTRA’s Biological Threat Reduction Program.
Construction and Renovation
The renovations were part of a larger, global effort between DTRA, the NICD and the African Union Centre for Disease Control (Africa CDC). DTRA provided the design plans and physical renovations to the training centre while the NICD contributed the land, human capital expertise and the laboratory equipment.
December 9: Official Opening
Members of the Defense Threat Reduction Agency (DTRA) participated in a ribbon-cutting ceremony commemorating completion of the construction project of the Regional Diagnostic Demonstration Centre (RDDC) at South Africa’s National Institute for Communicable Diseases (NICD) in Johannesburg on December 9. The Africa CDC designated the Training Centre as the “Regional Centre of Excellence for Biosafety and Biosecurity” and began developing regional and continent-wide certification programs at the facility.
2022: Operational Status
The Training Centre is currently operational and has conducted more than 16 different training courses since January of 2022 for both South African and other regional audiences. Courses at the Training Centre include topics from BioRisk management to risk and hazard communication, to preparing South Africa to respond to outbreaks on the continent.
Contact Us
- Address: National Institute for Communicable Diseases (NICD) Johannesburg, South Africa
- Email: RDDCBooking@nicd.ac.za
- Phone: 011 555 0405 or 011 386 6360
