Sad passing of iconic figure in Ladysmith
She strongly believed that “the hand that gives is the hand that gets”
Mrs Prashintla Ramkelawan sadly passed away at a hospital in Newcastle on April 30 after a battle with illness. She was 67 years old.
Speaking to husband Mr Dinesh Ramkelawan, he described his late wife as having a heart full of kindness and generosity, and as a woman who always believed in the love of humanity.
Mrs Ramkelawan was born on January 4, 1953, in Glencoe. She had three brothers and one sister, with Prashintla being the eldest.
She married Mr Dinesh Ramkelawan in 1978 and moved to Ladysmith the very same year.
Also in the same year, she began teaching at ML Sultan Primary School, where she was an educator in the junior primary and a remedial teacher.
Mrs Ramkelawan was a teacher for 23 years up until 1997, when she decided to devote her time and total involvement to autism, ADD and ADHD. This was in large part due to the fact that her son Shamal was autistic and needed her care around the clock.
Mrs Ramkelawan was extensively involved in and knowledgeable about autism, and gave many talks on the subject.
She was a cancer survivor, being in remission in 2003, and became involved in the Cancer Association of South Africa (CANSA). Through CANSA, she established herself in the community and touched the lives of many in the process.
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She attended many conferences and even went so far as to sell roses in the fight against cancer. Through the many conferences she attended, Prashintla was able to spread the word that “cancer can be beaten” far and wide. She was the key figure at many events, and changed people’s lives for the better.
She strongly believed that “the hand that gives is the hand that gets”.
Her husband says she was a dynamic and fearless person who had a great love for music, coming from a musical background. In her lifetime, she got to meet big names like Lata Mangeshkar, Sonu Nigam and even guitar maestro Carlos Santana.
Mrs Ramkelawan respected people of all cultures, which won her the respect of those she came in contact with.
Showing her resilience, she took a 16-hour trek up the Vaishno Devi Mountain in India back in 2011.
Mrs Ramkelawan leaves behind loving husband Mr Dinesh Ramkelawan, son Shamal and daughter Bhavna, Mishanth, Rahul and relatives. She will be truly missed by many in the community.
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