Former Mitchells Plain resident, Dr. Craig Burns has been admitted to the College of Surgeons of South Africa (CMSA), a significant step as a specialist surgeon. 

Burns, who is married and a father of two, made sacrifices to pursue his education, having graduated with a medical degree in 2015 and a Master’s in Surgery in 2025 and hopes to inspire children.

Burns took to his LinkedIn account recently, announcing his successful admission to the College of Surgeons, South Africa.

“Admission to the College of Surgeons of South Africa. I am honoured,” he wrote.

“Thanks to everyone that got me through this journey and congratulations to all the other new fellows.

“Let’s do great things in Medicine.”

According to  the CMSA’s website, it is dedicated “To promote the highest degree of skill and efficiency in medical and dental practice and to cultivate the highest ethical standards and professional conduct … not for pecuniary profit, but for the betterment of humanity”. 

Burns, 33, is a qualified surgeon who lived in Mitchells Plain and Hanover Park, which is notoriously known for crime and poverty.

Burns, who now resides in Johannesburg, studied Medicine at Stellenbosch University and later moved to Kimberly and completed his internship and then his community service as a doctor, which saw him in the fields of obstetric and gynaecology fields.

It was at Chris Hani Baragwanath Hospital where he learnt how to become a surgeon after becoming a Medical Officer during 2019 and 2020.

According to Coloured South Africa’s Facebook page, Burns used to commute via taxi from Mitchells Plain to his grandmother’s home in Hanover Park to attend school in Lansdowne.

“After graduating with his masters this year, Craig had to take one final step and that is to get admitted to the College of Surgeons of South Africa,” Coloured South Africa said.

“The college focuses on improving the skills of specialist surgeons, bringing them in line with international standards. Craig will then have to write a specialist exam and if he passes, he will be one of the top doctors in his field of surgery.”

Earlier the Cape Argus shared Burns story of hope where he told of how he was surrounded by unemployment, gangs, drugs and financial problems and that he knew that he had to do well in school in order to break the cycle and appreciate the sacrifices his parents made.

“I just want representation for our people and people from Mitchells Plain,” Burns told Cape Argus.

Life Healthcare, Life Wilgeheuwel Hospital also commended Burns for his outstanding profile when he joined their staff as a general surgeon last month, citing that he had received accolades for his work.

“In 2024 he completed his specialist training, having obtained FCS (SA) from CMSA and MMed (Surg) from Wits University. 

“Dr Burns was also awarded a Golden Key award for academic achievement in surgery. For more information on our general surgeons at Life Wilgeheuwel Hospital.”

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Cape Argus

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