Source: Clarence Kwinana - supplied by Denosa
The mortal remains of a Gqeberha nurse, who left the country to assist post-independent Tanzania to revive nursing in that country, will be repatriated to South Africa this week.
The Democratic Nursing Organisation of South Africa said its members will join nurses of all ages at OR Tambo International Airport on Tuesday, and then Chief Dawid Stuurman International Airport in Gqeberha on Wednesday, to welcome home the remains of Sister Kholeka Tunyiswa.
She was part of the so-called "Group of 20 Nurses" who were recruited by the African National Congress, at the behest of President Julius Nyerere in 1961, to "help revive nursing in post-independent state Tanzania.
Denosa spokesperson, Sibongiseni Delihlazo, said Sister Tunyiswa, who was born on 29 November 1936, left the country at the age of 25 for Tanzania where she practiced as a nurse together with 19 other nurses who were recruited from South Africa.
He said Sister Kholeka passed away in Dar es Salaam on 5 March, at the age of 87.
Delihlazo said she was cremated in a private family ceremony and her ashes will be returned to South Africa on Tuesday and then on Wednesday to Gqeberha, where she had been recruited by ANC struggle stalwart Govan Mbeki.
A memorial service funeral will be held on 22 April in Gqeberha.
