In remembrance
In remembrance: Professor Abdul-Wahab Barday
30 August 2019 | The UCT ExecutiveDear colleagues and students
It is with sadness that we share news of the death of Professor Abdul-Wahab Barday (77), who passed away on the morning of 26 August 2019.
At the time of his passing Professor Barday was an honorary adjunct associate professor in the Division of Family Medicine in the Faculty of Health Sciences. He was part of the UCT community for years, beginning as an undergraduate student, where he honed his leadership skills on the Studentsʼ Representative Council, and returning as a visiting associate professor in October 2005.
Professor Barday played an active role in both the faculty and the wider UCT community. He served as a member of Council, Senate, the Faculty Board, the UCT Medical Centre and the Institutional Forum, among others. He was also key in the establishment of the UCT Vanguard Student Learning Centre in Bonteheuwel – a leading example of community-based interdisciplinary education in the Western Cape, South Africa and internationally.
His accolades also extend beyond UCT. Professor Barday served as vice-chair and chair of the Finance Committee of the Teaching Hospitals Board. As part of the Health Professions Council of South Africa, Professor Barday was appointed as the first medical ombudsman in South Africa in 2005, and he was the first black district surgeon in South Africa, serving from 1975 to 1990 in the magisterial district of Wynberg and Athlone. He was also director of the then Gatesville Medical Centre private hospital.
As a general practitioner in the Athlone/Gatesville area for many years, Professor Barday was respected as a family doctor, a community leader and a leader in the medical profession who mentored many young doctors. He will be remembered as a selfless individual with a commitment to the upliftment of communities.
Professor Barday is survived by his wife Maymuna and children Gaffaar, Zunaid and Naseema.
The university has reached out to offer support to the Barday family, and our heartfelt condolences go out to them and all who knew Professor Barday.
Sincerely
The UCT Executive
Read previous communications:
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.
Please view the republishing articles page for more information.
