Mortal remains of Mama Kholeka Tunyiswa arrived in her hometown, Gqeberha, to a packed PE International Airport on Wednesday 23.
Nurses of all ages led by DENOSA, government representatives, and the ANC Women’s League gathered and filled up the Airport, which was packed to capacity.
The family landed at the airport at 13h20 on a flight from Johannesburg, a day after they landed from OR Tambo International Airport.
It was an emotional moment as Mama Kholeka had left as a 25-year-old nurse from Gqeberha early in 1962, together with 19 other nurses who were recruited from the country for Tanzania where the helped fixed the country’s nursing crisis.
They were planted throughout the various hospitals in the country where they headed the facilities and also provided training were they upskilled many nurses to become professional nurses.
It was her first return home after she had left for Tanzania, where she got married five years later (in 1967).
Her memorial service will be held on 22 April 2023 in Gqeberha.
