Thobile Collin Nontyi
It is with great sadness that the Faculty of Pharmacy notifies the University community of the passing of Mr Thobile Collin Nontyi, who was a Principal Technical Officer in the Division of Pharmaceutics. Mr Nontyi took an early retirement in April 2018. His family informed us that he passed away on Wednesday, 4th March 2020 in Port Elizabeth. He joined the Faculty of Pharmacy (when it was still known as the School of Pharmaceutical Sciences) as a temporary laboratory assistant in 1982 when he was an undergraduate student at the University of Fort Hare during those days of severe disruption of the academic program. It is gratifying that he took advantage of the University’s dispensation which enabled him to register for a single science course annually until he was awarded a BSc degree in 1993.
His death is an unexpected shock to all of us who had known him and worked closely with him.
Mr Nontyi was a highly regarded member of the Faculty of Pharmacy. He understood the value of education. He registered for an MSc(Pharm) but personal health problems forced him to stop studying. He was able to train students on how to use instruments accurately and effectively. His good sense and wise judgement were constantly available to both staff and students. I do say that he was uniformly respected by many of us who appreciated his willingness to accept the often difficult role of being there for both undergraduate and postgraduate students at all times.
Our deepest condolences to his family, friends, colleagues, former students and to all those whose lives he touched. His many contributions to students and Faculty colleagues will be warmly remembered.
Last Modified: Wed, 16 Sep 2020 17:14:44 SAST