SA medical students who died in Cuba laid to rest

SA medical students who died in Cuba laid to rest

A KZN medical student - who died in Cuba - will be laid to rest in his hometown of Manguzi in the province's northern region today.

Dhlomo Cuba
Supplied


Sihle Makhaye - who was in his fifth year of studies - and his friend, Sibusiso Ngeleka drowned while swimming in a pool at a friend's birthday party earlier this month. Ngeleka's funeral took place yesterday.  


Health MEC Sibongiseni Dhlomo says the department will continue to provide support to the young men's families.


"We mourn because when these students graduate, we still expect about 50 years of their lives to be given back to the department. The investments that we have made is really a sad loss," he says.


Dhlomo says they have sent psychologists to Cuba to help console fellow students.


"This happened around the time when students were just about to write exams. They needed a lot of support, of course they do have psychologists in Cuba but it's very different to get a psychologist to come from your country, who can speak your language and can understand your culture," he says


More than 700 students from KZN are receiving medical training in Cuba.


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