KWAZULU-Natal Health MEC Dr Sibongiseni Dhlomo has strongly condemned the murder of a 46 year-old nurse who was shot and killed in cold blood by three unknown men at her home in Nkwenkwe, in Melmoth on Saturday night. It is alleged that the three assailants shot her and then made off with her motor vehicle, which was later found by the police, abandoned at Eshowe. She sustained gunshot wounds to the head, and passed away at Inkosi Albert Luthuli Central Hospital yesterday.
Sister Nothando Biyela, who had worked for the Department since 01 November 2000, has been described by her colleagues as a very mature and hardworking nurse. She is said to have loved her job, always advocating for her patients and putting them first.
She had started as an orderly within the laundry unit, working under the diocese attached to the church. She then worked her way up and received training as an enrolled nurse, before furthering her studies to eventually become a professional nurse. She was working in the male ward at the time of her demise.
MEC Dhlomo described the gruesome murder as a real tragedy. “The murder of Sister Biyela is a sad day, as we have just emerged from our campaign against femicide and other forms of gender-based violence, through the 16 Days of Activism for no Violence Against Women and Children. You just know that something has gone terribly wrong in society when three men gang up against one woman, shoot her and take away a disposable material possession such as a car. It becomes a shock to the system because nothing can ever be equated to the value of human life. It is even worse when we lose a healthcare worker because these are people who’ve been sent by the Almighty God himself, to preserve and save lives. So, this is shocking and devastating, and we are praying for the Almighty to grant her family strength during this difficult time. We hope the police will make an arrest soon.”
MEC Dhlomo is due to visit the family in Zululand district on Thursday.