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Dr Solombela an outstanding cadre: Ramphele

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Dr Mamphela Ramphele, businessman Saki Macozoma and Thenjiwe Mthintso have described the late Dr Silo Solombela as the disciplined cadre of the ANC who dedicated his life in the well-being of all South Africans.

They were part of dozens of mourners who paid their last respects to Solombela at his funeral at Zazulwana Village, near Butterworth in the Eastern Cape.

Solombela died last week after a long illness aged 67. Dr Solombela has been described as self-less leader who was not only an outstanding doctor but a disciplined MK operative in the 70 and 80s.

He worked with Dr Ramphele as Medical Officer at Zanempilo Health Centre outside King William’s Town in 1976.

A number of speakers have described him as a passionate doctor and a community builder. Dr Ramphele has described Dr Solombela as an outstanding cadre.

“He was a rare individual. His passion for really doing the best for the people and his specillity to be the physician, he did not use it like other to make money, he used it to be the best doctor anybody could have for whoever problem they have. His generosity was not just generosity with material things but much more the deeply connectedness.”

South African Ambassador to Bucharest, Thenjiwe Mthintso has described Solombela an outstanding cadre who was prepared to serve his nation.

“He was a holistic human being, revolutionary health worker who dedicated his life to the freedom of our people in all regards and he respected everybody and loved everybody. Such integrity, such honesty, such commitment, such service and I do not think is ever witnessed to many or the doctors in fact in many of the people we have. He represents the best of our cadres and of the South Africans and Africans.”

Businessman and Siyolo’s former comrade in the liberation struggle Saki Macozoma says Solombela highlighted the importance of education and politics at all times.

“You could get that education and still be in the liberation struggle and use that education for the purpose of servicing people who were underprivileged than serviced; and I can testify that I have not come across with a doctor who is so loved by his patients.”

Macozoma says Dr Solombela served all people across the racial lines with dignity.

“The human-being is not only blood and muscles, human-being is also spiritual and the way in which the doctor administered to both of his side of a person is very important to give back the dignity of a person, to give the person a knowledge. What is wrong with a man? What a possible remedies are? It’s something that is very rare in these days.”

The funeral was also attended by ANC NEC member Thoko Didiza, doctors, the business community and political leaders across the political landscape.

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