South African cardiologist, Professor Bongani Mayosi commits suicide after battling depression for two years

The Dean of the Faculty of Health Sciences at the University of Cape Town, Professor Bongani Mayosi has died at the age of 51.

The University of Cape Town in s statement about his death said, “It is with great sadness that we‚ the Mayosi family‚ announce the passing of our husband‚ son‚ father‚ brother and uncle‚ Bongani Mayosi who died on the morning of 27 July 2018. In the last two years he has battled with depression and on that day took the desperate decision to end his life."

Mayosi was a cardiology professor who was awarded the county’s highest honour, the Order of Mapungubwe in 2009.

Mayosi was an A-rated National Research Foundation researcher. His research interests included rheumatic fever, tuberculosis pericarditis and cardiomyopathy. Until his death, he was a member of the Academy of Science of South Africa and a former President of the College of Physicians of South Africa.