End of an era: Thembalami Care Centre bids farewell to longtime nurse

After 41 years of compassionate service to the elderly, Paulina Namo, the head of nursing services at the Thembalami Care Centre, will hang up her nurse’s cap at the end of July.

Her retirement marks the end of a remarkable chapter not just for the Rand Aid Association, but for every life she touched along the way.

With more than 14 000 days of care, leadership and dedication behind her, Paulina’s story is both inspiring and humbling.

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From her early years navigating political unrest to becoming a cornerstone of elder care, she has walked a path guided by faith, resilience and service.

Born in Alexandra, Paulina grew up in a family rooted in education, community and faith.

Her father, Ranthite Namo, was the youngest of 13 children, who educated himself through sheer determination.

He became a teacher and later an Anglican priest, known for his work in prison education and social justice.

Her mother, too, quietly championed the vulnerable, often sheltering women fleeing domestic violence.

When the 1976 Soweto uprising brought schooling to a halt, Paulina’s uncle, Canon Leo Rakale, saw her potential and acted.

Through his connections with the Community of the Resurrection in Rosettenville and the UK, Paulina was offered an educational opportunity in England that would change her life.

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“I was just 17 and had to leave everything I knew behind,” recalled Paulina.

“I initially stayed with Hannah Stanton, a remarkable woman who had been deported from SA for her activism.

“When British immigration tried to interrogate me alone after I arrived from SA, she stormed in and said, ‘How dare you treat this child like that?’ She made sure I was safe.”

At the Anglican Convent in Norwich, Paulina started again from Grade 10, despite having been in matric in SA.

“I had never done science, but a teacher motivated me to take physics, chemistry and maths. I ended up writing my O-levels through the Oxford and Cambridge Schools Examination Board.”

Paulina dreamt of studying medicine but, due to financial constraints, pursued nursing instead.

She trained at the Norfolk and Norwich Hospital and returned to SA in 1984, determined to serve. However, her homecoming was jarring.

“I went to the Johannesburg Hospital to apply for a job and was told, ‘Blacks are not allowed here’. They said I could work as a cleaner,” she recalled.

“I had the qualification but no opportunity.”

Then Paulina heard about the Rand Aid Association, and so began a four-decade journey of dedication.

Paulina started at the Bramley Complex in November 1984.

“The grounds were beautiful and the atmosphere with colleagues was serene,” she remembered.

“Dr Paul Wright, our house doctor, told me, ‘You are not alone; I’m just a call away’. That spirit of care inspired me.”

She quickly rose through the ranks, becoming night superintendent, where her innovative and compassionate approach left a lasting impact.

“I created a schedule to visit all residents every evening. Continuity of care mattered. I wanted the residents to feel safe and respected, no matter the time of day.”

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Paulina was instrumental in mentoring staff and conducting in-service training.

Two carers under her guidance became enrolled nursing assistants, and one eventually followed her to Thembalami.

She also worked in Rand Aid’s detoxification unit at the Wedge Gardens, gaining skills that would serve her well in primary healthcare.

Throughout her career, she made sure no one died alone.

“Even today, at Thembalami, if a resident is dying and has no family, staff take turns to sit with them, hold their hand and talk to them until the end. That is non-negotiable.”

Paulina has always seen her work as a calling.

“You learn so much from older people. Their wisdom is not something to be thrown away,” she said.

She fondly remembers residents who became like family, and the moments of quiet dignity that reinforced her life’s purpose.

Her leadership helped shape Thembalami’s warm and caring environment, where residents are treated with deep respect.

“The Rand Aid gives elders a life of dignity. They are cared for until the Lord calls them.”

Paulina’s later years were marked by personal sorrow. During the Covid-19 pandemic, she lost both her parents, just days apart.

She could not bury her mother as she was ill. Then her father, grief-stricken after 63 years of marriage, died 12 days later.

Despite these losses, she has remained a pillar of strength, never allowing her grief to overshadow her commitment to her residents.

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After her years spent at the Rand Aid, Paulina is ready to spend more time with her family, especially her nine-year-old grandson.

She is moving to Highlands North and looks forward to indulging her love of reading, gardening and watching news channels.

“I have a passion for biographies, the likes of Barack Obama and George Bizos, and I love feeling the earth between my fingers.”

Paulina is also proud of those she has mentored, including Mahlatse Isabel Mokoana, a former care worker who trained as a paramedic and firefighter.

“I am so proud of her. She is proof that we rise by lifting others.”

“Paulina’s retirement is not just the end of an era; it’s a celebration of what it means to live a life of purpose, compassion and integrity.

She leaves behind a legacy of care, courage and love,” said Rand Aid’s general manager, Ayanda Matthews.

“Thank you to the Rand Aid for trusting me with your residents,” added Paulina. “It was an honour.”