OBITUARY

Prof. Alpheus Mabose Segone

Alpheus Mabose Segone was born on 19 November 1943 and passed away on 20 February 2018.

He attended high school at the Diocesan Training College, Pietersburg, and then completed a BSc at the University College of Fort Hare in 1963, with a distinction in chemistry. He went on to the University of Sheffield in the UK, where he completed his MB ChB in 1968.

Prof. Segone began his medical career as a houseman and then house officer in surgery at Nottingham City Hospital. He then served as a senior house officer in casualty at Warwick Hospital from 1969 to 1970 and as a senior house officer in surgery at Manchester Royal Infirmary from 1970 to 1971. In 1971 he started his surgical training at Macclesfield Infirmary, and in 1975 began work as a specialist surgeon at Kitwe Hospital in Zambia, where he stayed until 1978.

In 1979, Prof. Segone started on the path that he would become well known for, urology. He returned to London to be a registrar in urology at St Peter's Hospital and the Institute of Urology, completing his training at the Central Middlesex Hospital in London in 1985. He then worked as a locum consultant urologist at Halifax General Hospital in Yorkshire and Walton Hospital in Liverpool until March 1986.

Our continent was then fortunate enough to regain his expertise, as in April 1986 Prof. Segone began work as a consultant urologist and lecturer in urology at the Harare Central Hospitals, University of Zimbabwe. In 1992, he returned to South Africa and took up the position of senior specialist/senior lecturer in urology at Dr George Mukhari Hospital, Medunsa (now Sefako Makgatho Health Sciences University (SMU)). From 1994 until 2008 he was professor and chief specialist in urology at the same hospital, where he continued to work as a medical specialist until his death. As part of the Interim Council, he played an important role in the establishment of SMU.

Prof. Segone was a member of a number of professional societies. He was a Fellow of the Royal College of Surgeons, Edinburgh, and of the College of Surgeons (Urology) South Africa, and a member of the Pan African Urological Surgeons Association, where he served as president from 2004 to 2005 and was a member of the Editorial Board. He was also a member of the British Association of Urological Surgeons, the Zimbabwe Medical Association, the South African Urological Association and the Societe Internationale D'Urologie, which he served as a member of the Executive Committee. He was also a member of a number of university committees, serving on the Board of Surgery at the University of Zimbabwe from 1986 until 1991, and on the Faculty Board of Medunsa from 1993 to 2009, on the Medical Advisory Committee from 1994 to 2009, on the Medical Executive Committee from 1999 until 2009, and on the Joint Medical Personnel Committee for 10 years, 1999 - 2009. He chaired the Dr George Mukhari Hospital Management Committee from 1997 to 2009, was president of the Hospital Board from 1997 to 2008, and served as chair of the Appointments Committee from 1999 to 2009. He was a member of the Education Committee of the South African Urological Association for four years, from 2000 to 2004, and was a member of the Surgical Heads Committee at Medunsa from 1993, a position he held until his death.

Prof. Segone chaired a number of congresses and sessions around the world, from Zimbabwe to Tunisia, Kenya, Turkey and Nigeria. He also attended and presented at various international conferences, published in a number of journals and was involved in several important clinical trials. All these academic contributions have added significantly to the body of medical knowledge.

The Colleges of Medicine of South Africa (CMSA) has been privileged to have Prof. Segone serve it in various capacities. In 2000 he was secretary of the College of Urology, and in 2002 he became a member of the Senate, serving until 2014. From 2012 to 2014 he was a member of the Board of Trustees, and then a member of the Board of Directors from 2013 to 2014. He continued to provide wisdom and counsel to the CMSA by serving in various key positions that ensured that the Colleges are accountable and respond to stakeholders.

In 2012, the National Minister of Health, Dr Aaron Motsoaledi, appointed Prof. Segone as a member of the Forum of Statutory Health Councils of South Africa. He was one of two members representing the universities in South Africa. In 2016, he was appointed by the National Minister of Justice and Correctional Services, Adv. Michael Masutha, to chair the Medical Parole Board Committee of the Correctional Services.

Despite his busy schedule, Prof. Segone still managed to take time out for himself, enjoying games of squash, tennis and golf. He also listened to music and had a special interest in African art (carvings) and traditional music.

In recognition of his outstanding contributions to the CMSA and healthcare in South Africa, Prof. Segone was elected to Honorary Fellowship of the CMSA in 2016, the highest honour the Colleges can bestow.

He is survived by his wife Nombulelo and children Tebogo and Yolisa.

Mike Sathekge

President, Colleges of Medicine of South Africa. mike.sathekge@up.ac.za

Shingai Mutambirwa

Senator, CMSA (urologist)