Health care is very important and what the South African Department of Health is doing through its doctors training programme in Cuba will have a huge impact on the poor in this country. Retired Major-General Mokgethi Radebe said this in his parting message at a farewell function organised for him by the Office of the Premier at the Mafikeng Hotel School on Friday evening,
Major-General Radebe, who is a qualified medical doctor with ample experience in the field, has been requested by the Minister of Health, Dr Aaron Motsoaledi to oversee the training of South African medical students in Cuba. He will be based in Cuba where he will also serve as an attaché for health relations between South Africa, Cuba and Chile. "It feels as if I am leaving the earth. Leaving the North West is very hard for me. It feels as if I am going to exile again."
“When I was requested by the Minister of Health to go and oversee the training programme in Cuba, I finally agreed because health care is very close to my heart. North West has been the biggest part of my life. In fact my mother came from Ventersdorp,” said Radebe. Radebe has been an Acting Director-General for the North West Provincial Administration since 2012. He was appointed Head of Department of Health in 2011.
Prior to this appointment, he was with the Department of Defence where he was with the South African Military Health Services. He joined South African National Defence Force (SANDF) in 1994 and rose to the rank of Major General.
He was dispatched by the African National Congress to study medicine in Cuba in 1981 and qualified as a medical doctor in that country in 1989. Upon graduating, he worked in the MK camps in Angola in 1989.
Between 1990 and 1991, he worked in Zimbabwe. He returned to South Africa from exile in 1991, and joined the Medical University of South Africa (MEDUNSA) for a year, after which he went into private practice till 1994 when he joined the SANDF.
Major General Radebe is from the class of 1976 that went into exile in that year. He was in Matric when he left South Africa during a student uprising to swell the ranks of the African National Congress (ANC) and Umkhonto We Sizwe (MK). He trained as an MK soldier in Angola and served the ANC in different capacities in the health sector until he was sent to Cuba to study medicine in 1981.
He was born in Katlehong in the East Rand, where he completed his primary school and high school. Acting Head of Department for the Office of the Premier Oageng Mosiane said the Major-General has provided exemplary leadership.
“He has been an exemplary manager, doing his job with passion and dedication. We know that he will make us and the entire country proud in his new role,” said Mosiane.
Head of Department for Economic Development, Environment, Conservation and Tourism Abe Tlaletsi said Major-General Radebe’s departure must not be seen as a loss to the province as he will be an ambassador for the North West.
“You are going to represent the North West as an ambassador. Be focused, don’t be tempted by the sea, the beach and the Cuban cigars,” said Tlaletsi.
The farewell function was attended by prominent members of the community including traditional leaders, local priests, members of the Mayoral Committee from Mahikeng Local Municipality, staff from the Premier’s Office and senior government officials from other provincial departments, members and some of the Cuban doctors based in the province.
Enquiries:
Lesiba Moses Kgwele (spokesperson)
Tel : 018 388 3705
Cell : 083 629 1987
Fax : 018 388 3157
E-mail : LKgwele@gmail.com
