The sudden death of professor Bongani Mayosi has been described as a devastating loss, with some of his colleagues saying he was the Nelson Mandela of medicine.
Mayosi, one of the country’s leading cardiologists, committed suicide on Friday after battling depression for the past two years, his family said in a statement.
The 51-year-old was the dean of health sciences at the University of Cape Town at the time of his death.
Mayosi was also previously the head of the department of medicine at UCT and Groote Schuur Hospital.
Dr Masonwabe Makrexeni, who is a cardiologist at Dora Nginza Hospital in Port Elizabeth, said Mayosi “was our Mandela in medicine”.
“Everybody is shaken. My spirit is so low right now,” Makrexeni said.
“He was like a father to us, a mentor, he set an example.
“Words really can’t describe how shocked we all are and I think it will take some time for the news to really sink in.
“He’s from the Eastern Cape and was one of the first to obtain a PhD overseas.
“He always encouraged others to do the same.
“His death comes as a big shock. Nobody knew he was struggling [with depression].”
Dean of health sciences at Nelson Mandela University, professor Lungile Pepeta, said Mayosi was a leader in his field. “His death is so shocking. “My condolences to his family and to everyone who ever had the privilege to work with him,” Pepeta said.
“We worked together on so many research projects. He was a true friend and mentor.”
Pepeta said Mayosi “had many collaborations not only overseas, but in sub-Saharan Africa as well”.
“We’re now left wondering who’s going to be the principal investigator in some of his research work.”
A longtime friend, Proactive Health Solutions CEO Dr Fundile Nyati described Mayosi as one of the best minds whose brilliance was evident as far back as his high school days in Mthatha in the early 1980s.“He was disciplined. He cruised through the first year of university,” Nyati said.
“He made his first medical discovery when he took a year to study anatomy.
“By the time we got to third year, he already had a degree.”
Nyati said there was a need to understand mental illness in the medical fraternity.
“There isn’t much attention that is given to the fact that the kind of work doctors are doing requires that they be looked after,” Nyati said.
“It is that whole notion of who is caring for the carers, who is healing the healers?
“In the profession, we are taught to be superhuman and look after other people.
“We ignore our own and are reluctant to open up to colleagues. The issue of stigma and discrimination even among the colleagues is quite rife."
UCT vice-chancellor professor Mamokgeti Phakeng said the university was in touch with Mayosi’s family.
Phakeng said in a statement that the family was appreciative of all messages of support and condolence, “but requests that their privacy be respected during this difficult time”.
The university will this week mourn, reflect on and celebrate Mayosi’s life with several commemoration events planned, including a studentled candlelight vigil.
A memorial book, which will be given to the family, will be available on campus for the university family to share their memories of the professor.
In a statement, the Mayosi family said: “Bongani died on the morning of 27 July 2018.
“In the last two years, he has battled with depression and on that day took the desperate decision to end his life.”For help, contact:
Lifeline call centre: 0861-322322
SA Depression & Anxiety Group (SADAG) call line:
Suicide Alert line: 0800567-567
24hr Helpline: 0800-121314
Childline: 08000-55555