THE sister to the late Professor Samuel Mokgokong (71) has recalled how she held his hands through prayer in his final days.
Mokgokong, who was Mzansi's first black neurosurgeon, died on Wednesday, 24 January at Life Groenkloof Hospital in Tshwane after battling cancer.
Among his other achievements, Mokgokong was the former president of the Health Professions Council of South Africa (HPCSA) and is also remembered for being part of the surgical team that separated conjoined twins, Mpho and Mphonyana Mathibela at the Chris Hani Baragwanath Hospital on 7 December 1986.
Speaking to Daily Sun on Monday 29 January, his sister Modjadji Setlhake (41) detailed how the last days with her brother in hospital were hard, especially watching cancer take over him.
“He was a very strong man, but it was never easy for us to watch what that disease does to a person. In his recent years, he grew close to his spiritual Christian side as he was preaching it. It was in those moments when I would play gospel music for him. I would hold his hand, and we would pray together. That was just our moment of spending time together,” she said.
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Despite their 30-year age gap, she said as an older brother in a blended family, Mokgokong never made things awkward for them.
She said instead, he was always protective, supportive and made sure debates snuck into their conversions occasionally.
Modjadji said it was such moments that she would miss dearly about him. According to Modjadji, Mokgokong had been in hospital since 26 December where he was supported by family.
While his death was a huge loss for the family, Modjadji said they chose to rejoice in the great legacy her brother had left behind.
“He went from being a young boy from the farms to becoming the first black neurosurgeon and becoming a father. His daughters are successful. Truly there is light to his life.
"What made him even more happy is that he had been living in his faith through pastoring and preaching the word of God at Good Shepard Church, which made him even more happy because it's as though he was reconnecting and honouring his grandfather who was also a priest.”
She told Daily Sun that her biggest regret was that she didn't take enough photos with her bother.
Mokgokong will be honoured with two memorial services, which will both be held in Tshwane. The first one will be with his colleagues on 30 January and the second one with family on 31 January. His funerals service will be on 1 February, also in Tshwane.
