Tributes poured for a well-known, respected couple who died within a week of each other. Fanyana Baloyi, a businessman, died on May 7. His wife, Dr Sponono Baloyi followed on May 12.
Their grieving family and the community of Mbombela are shocked. The family spokesperson, Dr Bongi Baloyi, confirmed that her parents had both died after a short illness. Her father owned various businesses in KaNyamazane, KaBokweni and Matsulu. He started out as an administrator at Rob Ferreira Hospital before he worked as a sales representative.
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Fanyana had been recognised with awards for his work performance. He was one of the pioneers who founded the Provincial Branch of the National African Federated Chamber of Commerce and Industry in the province and also served on the then tender board of the Eastern Transvaal.
Sponono was a professional nurse who received her training at Coronation and Chris Hani Baragwanath hospitals before she started to work at Rob Ferreira as a general nurse and proceeded to Themba as a health community nurse. S
She obtained her master’s degree from the Bristol University in the UK and was conferred with an honorary doctorate from the Tshwane University of Technology. She was a politician who served two terms in the National Assembly in Cape Town under the leadership of President Nelson Mandela and President Thabo Mbeki. During that time she ensured that the land at Elandshoek and Mataffin was bought and returned back to the people. After her retirement from politics, she focused on her family.
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The Tshwane University of Technology also paid tribute.
“TUT is deeply saddened by the death of this heroic, revered and celebrated public health activist in nursing and public health, Dr Sponono Francinah Baloyi, who passed away at age 81. In October 2019, the university honoured her for her selflessness, commitment and exceptional work on health issues, by conferring her an honorary doctorate in nursing (honoris causa) in the faculty of sciences.
She was a delegate at Codesa and after the 1994 democratic elections, was elected as a member of the South African parliament, for which she played a vital role in introducing legislation to reduce the prevalence of tuberculosis as well as preventable childhood diseases, and to bring quality public health facilities to rural communities in the then Eastern Transvaal,” read the tribute.
