As Heidelberg celebrates its 160th anniversary, retired nurse and midwife Ntombana Pitso (84) is reflecting on a lifetime dedicated to caring for others.

Pitso, who lives in Ratanda and is still fondly known in the community as “Sister Pitso,” spent nearly three decades serving patients at Heidelberg Hospital.

She says nursing was never simply a profession for her, but a calling.

“I was born in 1942 in Chaterston, and later my family moved to Duduza. I was raised by parents who encouraged us to work hard and respect others. I believe that foundation helped guide me throughout my life. I began my schooling at Kenton, a Methodist institution that later closed, before transferring to a government institution in Hebron, Pretoria. In 1964, I completed a Lower Primary Teacher’s Course at Mzimkhulu,” she said.

Pitso’s career path changed in 1966 after seeing young women dressed in nursing uniforms.

“I saw some girls wearing nursing uniforms and they looked so professional. I admired them and asked where they were training. They told me they were studying at Boksburg Benoni Hospital, and that inspired me to follow the same path.

“After convincing my parents to support the decision, I applied for nursing training and underwent medical examinations. We did not even have a post office in the area. The police came to our home to deliver the message that the hospital wanted to see me and that I had been accepted. I started my professional career at Natal Spruit Hospital before transferring to Heidelberg Hospital in 1974. I served the community there until my retirement in 2003 when I turned 60,” she said.

Pitso said even after retiring, her passion for helping others continued.

“In 2010, some community members asked me to assist at the Ratanda Old Age Home, where I volunteered until 2022. During that time I also provided home-based care to elderly residents. I enjoyed helping the elderly, delivering medication and checking on their health. If I found someone in a critical condition, I would call an ambulance so they could receive urgent medical attention,” she said.

Reflecting on the nursing profession over the years, Pitso believes healthcare has improved in many ways.
“In our time, nurses and sisters were very dedicated and we worked with unity. We did not complain about long hours or backlogs. Today, government hospitals have doctors who are always available.

“In our time, many doctors mainly worked in private institutions and only came to hospitals when scheduled. Nursing requires patience, compassion and love for people. I encourage young nurses to stay dedicated to the profession and always care for their patients with respect,” she said.