South Africa’s first black cardiologist, the Potch-bred Professor Kubedi Patrick Mokhobo (94), received another honour for an incredible legacy with an honourary doctorate from Wits University in July this year.

A life that began on a farm in Mooibank, a place just south of Potchefstroom would go on to have a massive impact on South Africa’s medical field. From growing up in Makweteng township at what is now known as Miederpark, where he excelled academically from a young age before completing his education at Bantu Secondary School with distinctions.

While Mokhobo is often remembered for his work in the medical field, the story that got him there is a simple yet fascinating tale.

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After completing his Junior Certificate Examination (JCE) with first-class marks in what would be his first history making moment, he worked on the farm for a short time. His achievement at the time though was notable enough to get him published in the Potchefstroom Herald, something that gained him the attention of Hugh Calderbank, a local businessman who funded Mokhobo’s studies that began with a BSC at Fort Hare University which qualified to study medicine at Wits University.

After completing his studies and becoming the first black registrar and first black specialist physician in South Africa, he returned to Potchefstroom where he began practising at Potchefstroom Hospital until he went into exile. His exile to Swaziland saw him, practising in rural and under-resourced healthcare environments where his expertise served communities that at the time could not access advanced medical services.

Mokhobo’s time in exile also saw him living in Lesotho. While there he noticed that doctors in the country worked without a formal professional association which led to him helping to establish the Lesotho Medical Association as well as a medical journal. This was done to allow doctors in Lesotho to share their research, build a local body of medical knowledge, encourage continuous learning and promote evidence-based practice.

Faith takes Mokhobo to great heights

Professor Mokhobo’s status as a pioneer was earned not just through his drive to achieve excellence but also through his desire to make things better for his fellow man. His faith as a devoted Christian was also served as the motivation behind his actions believing that one cannot be servant of God without being a servant of the people.

This was especially evident in his commitment to the African Methodist Episcopal (AME) Church where he was choir member, a founding member of the church’s lay organisation in South Africa and a lay preacher. Mokhobo also served as leader in the church even in his later years.

Mokhobo dedicated his life to not only pursuing his own success but also to ensuring that he can share it and use it for the betterment of others. Whether it was building or improving professional structures in medicine, educating black medical students at the Medical University of South Africa (MEDUNSA) where he served as Dean of Faculty, Head of Internal Medicine and Head of Cardiology or his activism which saw him involved in the Pan Africanist Congress (PAC) as a founding member, Mokhobo spent his life serving the people believing that one should never stop seeking the face of God in whatever form it appears, be it through education or anything else.

A man with tremendous love

This is something he carried even at home with his stepson, Tebogo Moroe-Maphosa describing his father as a man full of love.

“This is a man with tremendous love. A love that you feel, you live in, you experience, you know and you have confidence in. You know even now I move around my world, in my work and in my life with absolute confidence that I am loved, with no doubt that I am loved even as my friends laugh at me about it.”

Prof Mokhobo is an example to South Africans but more specifically to people in Potchefstroom. The Tlokwe Heritage Institute recognises him as one of the most influential figures emerging from our town and strives to preserve and honour his legacy as well as that of other icons from the area. The institute even went as far as submitting motivation to the Presidency for Mokhobo to be awarded with the Order of the Baobab in Silver, an honour he received in May this year. Willie Maphosa, the Spokesperson for the Tlokwe Heritage Institute said that Mokhobo’s legacy is one which demonstrates that with the right mindset and ambition challenges can be overcome.

“Mokhobo’s life carries important lessons of overcoming adversities through sheer persistence, hard work and not being deterred by obstacles and challenges”.