Johannesburg - This year has been bitter-sweet for Dr Motshidisi Sehotsane. For eight years, she worked as part of the medical team for Nelson Mandela.
“I went back to the military hospital in February and we spoke about him all the time as part of our healing process.”
Sehotsane, who is in charge of ICU at the hospital, said it was difficult to get used to the new routine and she had to take anti-depressants because she couldn’t sleep.
She said even though it was a tough, emotionally draining job, it was her life and she sacrificed a lot for it.
“I barely saw my family and my marriage suffered.”
She was always by Mandela’s side, travelling with him even when she was heavily pregnant.
By 2009, after Madiba’s 91st birthday, Sehotsane was with Mandela full-time to attend to his medical needs along with his personal doctor, cardiologist and the rest of the team.
“He would always tell us jokes and tease everyone. ‘Oh darling, are you guys here to babysit me?’ he would joke whenever me and Mbali (the lady who massaged Madiba) would walk in the room.”
Sehotsane spent many lasts with Mandela.
She was with him on his last international visit, his last visit to Parliament, his last Christmas and was one of the doctors to certify him dead.
“That last Christmas in Qunu, he joked about how God and the devil were fighting over him. He said if he were to die before they made up their minds, he would try his luck in heaven,” she said.
She said Mandela always respected people and their professions, and made people feel comfortable in his presence.
“He empowered me. I was a very shy person, never one for the spotlight. I remember when Madiba had to get an injection and he stopped the specialist and told him to ask me for permission first,” she said.
She said this week had been a very emotional one.
“I’ve cried and now I want to continue the legacy of Tata and empower children who come from the rural areas to know that anything is possible,” Sehotsane said.
The Star