A Life Cut Short at UCT: Professor Bongani Mayosi's Demise, and the Search for the Reasons Why

By Chris Kanyane

This book is not a celebration of despair. It is a stark look into the abyss, a place where the absence of meaning can lead even the brightest lights to extinguish themselves. We will delve into the real and often-harrowing stories of suicide, exploring the lives shattered by this ultimate act of despair.

• Language: English
• Publisher: South Africa National Library Online
• Release date: Apr 7, 2024
• ISBN: 9798223103950

Chris Kanyane

The author first met Barack Obama close and personal in the majestic Kenya; both chatted and enjoyed lunched together. He is a global researcher and member of the Council for the Development of Social Science Research in Africa. He is also the president and cofounder of the global Moving Forward!

Book preview

INTRODUCTION

OUT BRIEF CANDLE!

Greatest Authors are leaders with a keen eye. They are social prophets. William Shakespeare was a leader, a prophet and a god. Your life, Shakespeare said, is like a tale told by an idiot, full fury yet empty and meaning nothing. Just eating, drinking, having sex and then you drop dead, your body rot eaten by words.

The exacts words used by William Shakespeare are as follows:

To-morrow, and to-morrow, and to-morrow,

Creeps in this petty pace from day to day,

To the last syllable of recorded time;

And all our yesterdays have lighted fools

The way to dusty death. Out, out, brief candle!

Life's but a walking shadow, a poor player

That struts and frets his hour upon the stage

And then is heard no more. It is a tale

Told by an idiot, full of sound and fury

Signifying nothing.

— Macbeth (Act 5, Scene 5, lines 17–28).

Suicide is the act of intentionally ending one's own life. It's a very serious issue and can be caused by many factors.

Suicide is a great concept of life that is emerging to become the avenue of release from pain, social disease or psychological torn. Yet the concept of suicide is not spoken or discussed in the public domain adequately.  And this very fact of inadequacy is designed to help. That by being silent we ensure the concept will eventually die. Alas, instead of dying it has gathered much strength and become Goliath of our times.

Six years have echoed by since the University of Cape Town (UCT) community was shaken by the tragic passing of Professor Bongani Mayosi. A towering figure in academic medicine and a leader who championed transformation, his absence continues to resonate deeply.

While the initial shock has subsided, a profound question lingers: what confluence of circumstances led to the loss of this brilliant mind? This book delves into a nuanced exploration, meticulously examining the potential contributing factors that shrouded Professor Mayosi's final days.

Our investigation is not driven by morbid curiosity; it's a necessary step towards understanding, fostering healing, and potentially preventing similar tragedies. We will move beyond the immediate events at UCT, examining the broader societal pressures that can affect even the most resilient individuals.

The Horrors and Demons of Suicide: Real Stories of Suicide: Shattered Lives and the Search for Answers

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When Darkness Devours the Light

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My journey to understand suicide began with my own existential exploration. The gnawing question – what is the meaning of life? – echoed in my mind. But as I delved deeper, I was confronted with a chilling truth. For many, the absence of a clear purpose becomes a suffocating darkness, a void