DOCTOR Michael Isabelle is the 29th doctor to be murdered in Soweto since 2019.
This was revealed during the memorial service for the murdered Dobsonville, Soweto, doctor, Dr Michael Isabelle.
The memorial service was held at the Sandton Convention Centre on Friday, 1 March.
It has also been revealed that the murdered doctor was shot a few years back. Fortunately, he survived. However, according to a family friend, Unati Mabandla, this time around, he couldn't have survived.
"No one would survive that. Doctors in here will understand why," Unathi said.
Brenda Sibeko from the Soweto Independent Practitioners Association (Soipa) said the government was failing independent practitioners. He said all these facilities are always monitored by CCTV cameras for security purposes.
"Our government is failing us. In Soweto, we're under siege. All the doctors in Soweto are on their own. What happened to Mike? He is not the first one, second or third, he's the 29th to be shot working in their facility," she said.
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Sibeko said the brutal killings all started in November 2019.
She said she wondered what the community did when they heard gunshots.
"When bullets were flying, what did the neighbours say? This was broad light (at 2pm). With the rounds of bullets, there's no way that the community didn't hear anything," she added.
Sibeko said Soweto's medical practitioners don't deserve to die this way.
She added that Dr Michael started practising in Dobsonville in 1997, and during Covid-19, his surgery was looted.
Describing Dr Mike, Sibeko said people would say Mike is strict.
"He was never strict, he was disciplined. He never sugar-coated anything."
The doctor's nephew, Sonwabo Xesha, said his uncle suffered a lot in the community in recent years.
"It's tough for us as a family. He was strict. He was a lover of music," he said.
He added that there was healing power in the shared memories they hold dear.
"We find solace in the memories that bring comfort to our hearts."
Speaker after speaker described the slain doctor as a dad, son, husband, brother, community leader and gentle giant who spent his entire life saving lives.
Family friend, Unathi Mabandla, said to Dr Mike's wife: "Your husband worshipped the ground you walked on, my friend."
An advisor to the Dobsonville councillor Queentin Martin said: "He became a part of the community. Tuesday morning, when we walked around, going to buy bread, we would feel that people were hurting."
