Doctor with heart for the people to be sorely missed
Siyolo Solombela 22 January 1951 - 22 May 2018
THE medical profession is mourning the death of one of the Eastern Cape’s finest, the acclaimed Dr Siyolo Solombela.
Solombela, 67, died this week after a long illness.
His family, peers and government spoke highly of the physician that worked for both the state and the private sector, saying medicine was not a career but a calling to Solombela.
His son, Fezile, said it had not sunk in that his father, who he described as “my super hero”, had died.
Fezile described his father as an intimately involved parent.
“He was always available for us and he was very involved. He was always open to discussion and debate. Even as teenagers he was intimately involved in our lives and we could talk to him about anything, including girls,” he said.
Fezile said his father was very passionate about his profession.
“It was a God-given gift to care for people. He devoted his life to healing people in the public and private sector. He would even go the funerals of his patients if he could. He also served on the medical parole board,” said Fezile.
He said his father had a sense of humour. The greatest lesson they learnt from him was to always give the best of themselves no matter how hard or challenging.
Dr Mzu Nodikida of the South African Medical Association said Solombela contributed immensely to the association and in the provision of healthcare.
“The association has lost great medical brains in Dr Solombela, as teaching of registrars was also very close to his heart,” Nodikida said.
Provincial health spokesman Sizwe Kupelo said: “To him medicine was not just a career but a call to serve the nation. He continued to deliver quality services to our people. He never retired because he understood the scarcity of his skills in the field.”
A memorial service will be held at the Abbotsford Christian Centre in East London on May 30, and Solombela will be laid to rest at Zazulwana in Butterworth.
Solombela is survived by his wife of 41 years, Pinky, three children and seven grandchildren. —