An Eastern Cape family is mourning the deaths of two brothers - one a recently qualified medical doctor- who died tragically in the space of a month. The Manaba family, from Goboti village in Ngcobo in the Eastern Cape, said they have been left with unanswered questions following the deaths of their sons, Mthandazo (25) and Mboneleli (33).

A BRIGHT SPARK

Having recently graduated as a medical doctor from Walter Sisulu University in May this year, Mthandazo had his whole life ahead of him and has been described as a bright spark who put his community on the map as the first doctor to emerge from his village. Mthandazo lost his life in horrific car crash in the notorious Kei Cuttings on the N2 road between East London and Butterworth. According to his family, who have been left devastated by the tragic incident, he was burnt beyond recognition. He had only been working for less than a year and as the main breadwinner, his family said they were still expecting a lot from him.

While still grieving Mthandazo tragedy struck again when Mboneleli, who had come from Cape Town to bury his younger brother, suddenly passed away.

His sister Sinovuyo Manaba, said it will take a long time for her to accept her brothers’ deaths ?if at all.?

?I think I will die still wondering why this had to happen to our family. It just doesn’t make sense. My brother Mthandazo was a very kind-hearted person who worked hard to obtain his medical degree in order to alleviate the plight of our family. He loved me and my mother dearly. I used to call him ?Well-Done?. He had just bought the car he was travelling in when he met his untimely death. The pain is just too much and every day I wish it was all a bad nightmare.?

Meanwhile Mthandazo is not the only young Eastern Cape doctor whose life has been cut short before even enjoying their careers to the fullest.

In 2015 Lwando Mantshontsho, a final year Walter Sisulu University medical student, was gruesomely attacked and killed by fellow medical students inside his residence room.