Three Milpark staff remembered at crash site

A memorial commemorating five people, including three Milpark Hospital staff, who died during a helicopter crash on January 21 last year was recently unveiled.

The memorial was unveiled during a private ceremony at the crash site near Winterton in KwaZulu-Natal.

More than 100 family members and friends of the deceased attended the memorial to lay wreaths on the site and speak in loving memory of their loved ones.

Aunt of the late cardiothoracic surgeon Dr Siyabonga Curnick Mahlangu, Nomsa Maselana said, “I believe God selected Siyabonga to form part of the history of South Africa’s healthcare.

“Through the enactment of this memorial site, Siyabonga will be remembered by many people in South Africa. He will be remembered even by people who never saw him. As the Mahlungu and Phakhathi families, we are thankful to Netcare for this memorial site which will enable us to pay our respects to Siya and perform the family rituals whenever the family deems necessary.”

Nomathemba Dlamini, niece of the late specialist theatre nurse Mpho Xaba said many more visits to the site in the future would help the family in the journey towards finding healing and closure.

Chief executive of Netcare Dr Richard Friedland said the company secured two hectares of land to preserve the site and design a respectful memorial ensuring all families were consulted and their guidance sought.

He said the memorial would enable families to reflect on the exceptional lives of the individuals who passed away.

“This space, this memorial, stands as a significant, and eternal symbol and reminder to all of us that these individuals lived and died as heroes.”

The memorial also serves to remember the 72 Netcare frontline heroes who lost their lives during the Covid-19 pandemic.

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