Last Sunday night around midnight Heinrich Venter, general manager of Netcare St Augustine’s Hospital received a message containing a joke from Dr Mahomed "Shorty" Moolla.
Early the next morning, Venter was standing at the door of Dr Moolla’s consulting rooms with the doctor’s sons, having to share the devastating news with a patient who had an appointment with Dr Moolla, that the world renowned sports doctor, who had practised at the hospital for more than two decades, had sadly and totally unexpectedly passed away during the night.
“Checking in every now and then with a motivational message or a little joke was one of Dr Shorty’s endearing habits. He was not only an exceptional doctor, but an extraordinary human being and people’s person through and through.
“Dr Moolla was always concerned about the well-being of everyone else. One morning earlier this year, I was summonsed to his consulting rooms. When I got there he sat me down and insisted on personally making me a cup of coffee. Then he simply said, ‘Talk’. When I asked what he wanted to talk about he replied, ‘I can see you’re stressed, tell me what is troubling you’,” remembers Venter.
Venter expressed his shock and sadness at the loss of Dr Moolla who was not only a valued colleague and friend to many at Netcare St Augustine’s Hospital, but also an outstanding healthcare professional who was known and loved the world over.
“The passing of Dr Moolla came as a tremendous shock to all of us at the hospital and to Netcare’s coastal management team. We are deeply saddened by the loss of a dear friend, colleague and special human being who has been an integral part of the Netcare St Augustine’s family for more than twenty years.
“Dr Shorty was a skilled and talented doctor who enriched the lives of many people, and his legacy will live on not only in the tremendous contribution he made to sports medicine, but in the special way that he touched the lives of others. He will be missed by everyone who knew and cared for him,” says Craig Murphy, director coastal of Netcare hospitals.
“Our hearts go out to Dr Moolla’s wife, Zarina, daughter, Zarina and sons Yusuf, Riaz and Addial. We extend our deepest condolences to them as well as other members of the family and friends in this time of personal and sad loss,” concluded Venter.
Ends
Issued by: MNA on behalf of Netcare St Augustine’s Hospital
Contact: Martina Nicholson, Graeme Swinney, Meggan Saville or Estene Lotriet-Vorster
Telephone: (011) 469 3016
Email: [email protected], [email protected], [email protected] or [email protected]