in 1955 I was doing my final year medical exams. I was scheduled to do my surgical oral on Yom Kippur with Prof F. VanZyl who was known to be one of the heads of the major racist,Afrikaner,anti black , antisemitic and defender of Apartheid groups in the country at the time.
I requested a change of date, which was granted, but my examiner …
in 1955 I was doing my final year medical exams. I was scheduled to do my surgical oral on Yom Kippur with Prof F. VanZyl who was known to be one of the heads of the major racist,Afrikaner,anti black , antisemitic and defender of Apartheid groups in the country at the time.
I requested a change of date, which was granted, but my examiner remained Prof Van Zyl.
When my exam date arrived, I was obviously terribly anxious
He started our interview saying I believe we are meeting at different date on account of your religious holiday. I respect that, he said, which gave me a very comforting feeling, proceeded with a very fair exam, which I passed. I, in turn respeted his attitude even though our political views were extremely different And that's how medicine should be practiced.
I learnt a good lesson. As result over the years ,my patients were from white, brown,,black, and across all religious and political groups, and were all treated with the same respect as I was by Prof Van Zyl.
Practitioners who do otherwise , should have their licence to practice cancelled.
in 1955 I was doing my final year medical exams. I was scheduled to do my surgical oral on Yom Kippur with Prof F. VanZyl who was known to be one of the heads of the major racist,Afrikaner,anti black , antisemitic and defender of Apartheid groups in the country at the time.
I requested a change of date, which was granted, but my examiner remained Prof Van Zyl.
When my exam date arrived, I was obviously terribly anxious
He started our interview saying I believe we are meeting at different date on account of your religious holiday. I respect that, he said, which gave me a very comforting feeling, proceeded with a very fair exam, which I passed. I, in turn respeted his attitude even though our political views were extremely different And that's how medicine should be practiced.
I learnt a good lesson. As result over the years ,my patients were from white, brown,,black, and across all religious and political groups, and were all treated with the same respect as I was by Prof Van Zyl.
Practitioners who do otherwise , should have their licence to practice cancelled.
Isaac Brajtman
Contrast that Afrikaaner's views about Jews with the present "anti-racist", Afro-Nazi regime in power in South Africa now.
Apartheid was admittedly wrong, but for South Africa's Jews, the new regime is even worse for them- than the old one was.
Which is why the Jewish population of South Africa is fading away.