Oldest private hospital honours nurses
The sculpture was unveiled on International Nurses’ Day and contains the features of eight nurses working at the Zuid-Afrikaans Hospital.
One of South Africa’s oldest private hospitals recently unveiled an iconic sculpture to honour 117 years of nursing in Muckleneuk, Pretoria.
The sculpture was unveiled on International Nurses’ Day and is based on eight nurses working at the Zuid-Afrikaans hospital.
Renowned South African sculptor Angus Taylor said the two-metre bronze sculpture, honoured the consummate professionals who had proudly upheld the nursing profession and had been part of the fabric of the hospital for more than a century.
The sculpture also notes the history of the hospital, which dates to 1904, shortly after the Anglo-Boer War, as it depicts the nurses in the uniform of Florence Nightingale.
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According to Robert Jordaan, managing director at the independent hospital, the artwork paid tribute to the compassion, commitment and selflessness of nurses and the prominent role they had continued to play in delivering superior nursing care through the ages.
“Unveiling this impressive sculpture in these unprecedented times serves as a tribute to the nursing professionals of Zuid-Afrikaans hospital,” said Jordaan.
He said the project was commissioned by the hospital’s board in 2019.
“The project will become part of the rich history of the hospital and the statue will be prominently positioned for all who work at and visit the hospital to enjoy.”
Jordaan said the sculpture would serve to remind the nurses at the hospital of the gratitude of both management and patients of the hospital.
He said that the features of the nurses working at the hospital were combined to represent the multi-faceted characteristics of South Africa and its people in creating a single, iconic South African nurse.
“The work of art incorporates special characteristics, which bring collective acknowledgement to all nurses of all cultural groups.
“Very few public works of art acknowledge the role that women played through the ages. I believe that this is also the first sculpture in our country dedicated to the South African nurse.”
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