By Phumlani Saul
Principal and deputy die within days of each other after testing positive for Covid-19
Uitenhage school has lost its principal and deputy principal after both died shortly after testing positive for Covid-19 as Nelson Mandela Bay continues to see a sharp increase in the number of coronavirus cases.
The city has seen a sudden surge in infections, rising from 194 active cases on September 27 to 2,513 by Sunday.
KwaNobuhle-based Noninzi Luzipho Primary School principal Danile David Mavikela died on Saturday at the Netcare Cuyler Hospital after being admitted 19 days earlier as he was struggling to breathe.
He was eventually placed on a ventilator
His wife, Patience, said she was devastated by Mavikela’s death.
“He was a wonderful person who loved teaching.
“I am sure the entire school will miss him,” she said.
Mavikela’s deputy, Ester Namfu, died on Wednesday while being transported by ambulance to Netcare Cuyler Hospital.
She would have turned 60 on Wednesday.
Ester’s brother, Themba Moyakaza, said he and his sister had always been close.
“I miss her so much. We were very close,” he said.
New Covid-19 figures show the metro has eight hotspots, with Motherwell at the top of the list with 416 active cases.
This is followed by Uitenhage (319), Kwazakhele (137), KwaNobuhle (133), Walmer (132), Bethelsdorp (128), Zwide (104) and Despatch (102) cases.
Eastern Cape premier Oscar Mabuyane last night assigned his special advisor, Dr Thobile Mbengashe, to help deal with the resurgent in infections in Nelson Mandela Bay and the Sarah Baartman district.
Mbengashe’s role is to support the joint operations centres in both areas in carrying out a strategy to curb infections.
“Through this strategy, the provincial government is targeting hotspot areas showing increasing numbers of Covid-19 infections in the province in order to lower the rate of transmission as we deal with what looks like a second wave of virus pandemic in the province,” a statement from the premier’s office said.
“Dr Mbengashe will be in Nelson Mandela Bay and Sarah Baartman this week to work with the two structures to suppress resurgence of Covid-19 infections.”
BIG LOSS: Noninzi Luzipho Primary School principal Danile David Mavikela and deputy Ester Namfu, who died of Covid-19 complications
Image: SUPPLIEDnull
He said Mavikela, 54, and Namfu, 59, had both been on sick leave.
“Contingency plans are in place at the school to ensure everyone will be assisted.”
The school’s head of departments, Lungelo Kilne, has taken the reins in an acting capacity.
Ester’s daughter, Sinovuyo, said her mother had started to show flu-like symptoms about five weeks ago.
“We gave her medication such as lemon and disprin.
“However, she continued to go to work as the flu was not that bad,” she said.
Sinovuyo said in the fourth week her mother’s condition worsened.
“She started to breathe heavily and battled to walk even five steps,” Sinovuyo said.
Ester was tested for Covid-19 on October 21, with her results coming back positive two days later.
“My mother was a talkative person. She loved children and people.
“You could hear her from anywhere. That’s how she could project her voice.
“She was also strict when it was needed.”
Patience Mavikela said she had received a call from the hospital on Saturday just after 9pm.
She was told to rush to the hospital as it was unlikely her husband would live for much longer.
“I went very quickly to the hospital and was given personal protective equipment to wear so I could say my final goodbye.”
She said her husband did not respond when she spoke to him at his bedside.
Asked what her finals words were to him, she said: “I can’t even remember any more.
“But I know in my heart it was the correct words at the time.”
Patience described her husband as someone with a passion for teaching.
“He was also an active and dedicated member of the Methodist Church of Southern Africa.
“He was once a recording secretary in the Methodist Grahamstown [Makhanda] district for six years.”
She said her husband was admitted on October 13 as he was struggling to breathe.
“They did a Covid-19 test once he was admitted and it came back positive that same night.”
She said her husband had shown symptoms of shortness of breath for two days before going to the hospital.
“That school has lost two people in the top management structure.
“It is awful news for everyone.”
She did not know where he could have contracted the virus.
Patience said the funeral arrangements still had to be concluded.
He had three children, Thembinkosi, 33, Lunga, 30, and Abongile, 24.
“He was a very loving parent,” she said
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