It’s evident Dr Mamashela is the best
Resident Forensic Pathologist, Dr Thakadu Arnold Mamashela (37) describes himself as curious and inquisitive and someone who pays attention to fine detail
POLOKWANE – Forensic pathology is a field that offers an interesting platform and is centered around medicolegal investigation. A forensic pathologist is tasked with determining cause of death by examining the body of the deceased.
Resident Forensic Pathologist, Dr Thakadu Arnold Mamashela (37), says he loves what he does for a living.
Born in Mahwelereng, Mamashela moved to Ga-Magongoa (Rietfontein) in Mokopane where he attended Nkgodi Sephungo Primary School. He attended S.J Van der Technical High School and went on to study in Pretoria before settling in Polokwane.
He studied medicine at the Medical University of Southern Africa, Ga-Rankuwa in Pretoria. Upon completion of his MBChB, Mamashela took an internship for a year, completed a year of community service and served as a medical officer at Mapulaneng Hospital in Bushbuckridge for a year.
“It was when I was at Mapulaneng Hospital when I had to decide to Specialise in forensic pathology. I then moved to Polokwane to get a post to train to become a specialist (Medical Registrar Post),” he said. In addition, Mamashela has a certificate in medicine and law, and a postgraduate diploma in forensic pathology. He also completed a fellowship in forensic pathology which qualified him as a registered specialist in the field. As if that wasn’t enough, he also studied toward a postgraduate diploma in health science education.
He describes himself as curious and inquisitive and someone who pays attention to fine detail.
“It’s interesting to have an opportunity to learn new things time and time again,” he said.
He says the most interesting aspect about his job is that he gets to be involved in the investigative process.
“I’m a doctor and always have the love of helping and making a difference in someone else’s situation, in this case, the relatives of the deceased who need to find closure of what happened or might have happened to their loved one.”
“Especially that old lady or old man coming from our deepest rural and impoverished areas of our province, they deserve quality service from us. It also gives me pleasure during the administration of justice in several cases where various levels, for example the magistrate, regional or high court, requires my assistance to provide expert opinion without taking sides, I will only provide what I found and my opinion leaving it for the courts to decide on the basis of facts,” he explains.
He offered advice to those hoping to study forensic pathology. “Science is an interesting field of study and full of possibilities. It takes determination and hard work to fulfil one’s dreams. Have a passion to discover new things, learning is a lifelong event.”
He concludes by saying: “Don’t give up on your dreams, do what you love and not what you think people want you to do”.
