“He was the Mandela of the health fraternity,” said Sister Stella Webb of Life St Dominic’s Hospital in Southernwood, before she broke into tears at the memorial service of her colleague, Dr Siyolo Solombela, who died last week.
Solombela, 67, succumbed after a long illness in a Gauteng hospital.
About 1000 colleagues, friends and family members of the health professional gathered at the Abbotsford Christian Centre yesterday afternoon to remember “Dr Solly” as he was affectionately called by some.
Webb said he was a humble man, with a wealth of wisdom which he shared with all he met.
“He was a rose in full bloom, a true gentleman who never complained, even when he was assaulted by a psychotic patient last year, he accepted it saying he was at the wrong place at the wrong time,” she said.
Patient Nontobeko Moletsane praised her doctor for knowing all of his patients by name.
“I have doctors for each and every part of my body because of Solombela, who didn’t hesitate to refer his patients to specialists because he wanted to see good results.
“He was a very busy man, who working in private and public facilities, but this did not deter him from knowing each and every one of his patients by name.
Moletsane said: “Even when my son was on his death bed late last year when out of town, I wasn’t sure about his doctor, but I was put at ease when I learnt that the doctor was trained by mine and I called him and they liaised, he was still our doctor at a distance.”.
FormerCecilia Makiwane Hospital CEO Dr Mthandeki Xamlashe said the doctor didn’t treat patients like business, instead they were a larger part of his community.
“He has always been part of the structures which brought all the health professionals together and even during the time of his death, he was on the board of the South African Medical Association (Sama) in the Eastern Cape.
Xamlashe said Solombela didn’t hesitate to call anyone to order and played a very pivotal role in the preservation of human life and glory. “He heeded to the call to venture into politics when he had to and did great work underground for Umkhonto weSizwe by night and saw patients by day, all in a bid to preserve human life. Indeed, giants are born and giants depart,” he said.
Sama provincial chairman Dr Mzulungile Nodikida said although Solombela was not a man of many words, when he spoke you could not but listen.
“He was a very inspirational man and a doctor who touched the heart of many people and we want to use his life to inspire young students in the fraternity and those aspiring to become a doctor. It was an honour to have worked alongside a giant like Dr Solombela.” — mbalit@dispatch.co.za..