It is not often that patients, community members and the wider public leave tributes and flowers outside a surgery to mourn the passing of a favourite son and a “compassionate and gifted doctor”.
This is what happened on Tuesday morning, June 16, 2020, when the coronavirus claimed one of its latest victims in Cape Town, Dr Fuad Jakoet.
As per Muslim tradition, the 70-year-old Dr Fuad was laid to rest as soon as possible by lunch time on the same day at the Mowbray cemetery. His funeral was by no means an ordinary affair. This out of 7 941 791 confirmed Covid-19 cases globally, of which 434 796 sadly resulted in fatalities and of which 132 581 new cases were reported on June 16.
To many Fuad was that “compassionate and gifted doctor.” To me he was also a “gifted friend and classmate,” for I had the privilege of spending five years in the same class at Harold Cressy High School in Roeland Street. At school, Fuad and Manie were also accomplished rugby players, albeit Yusuf took a greater liking to athletics. Fuad’s ability to help navigate through these tensions while always maintaining his integrity, identity and dignity served as the leitmotif of his career as a community physician and indeed his life.
This was the beginning of a lifetime association with the area that lasted for over 40 years. The practice later moved to the current premises on the corner of Alfred Road and Albert Road, which because of the location saw them serve as panel doctors for the members of the Garment Workers Union.
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