Western Cape Government Deeply Saddened by Death of Dr Louis Heyns

The Western Cape Government, Health, management and staff learnt with shock and deep sadness today of the death of Dr Louis Heyns of the Department of Paediatrics. Dr Heyns had been missing since Wednesday 22nd of May 2013. Dr Heyns worked at Tygerberg Hospital for 31 years, during which time he made an outstanding contribution to the care of children at the Hospital and in the wider Western Cape. 

 

Dr Heyns was a valued colleague and public servant, who dedicated his life’s work in the service of critically ill children in the Paediatric Intensive Care Unit at Tygerberg Hospital. He was at the time of his untimely death also the chair of the final year medical class education module in the Faculty of Health Sciences of the University of Stellenbosch.

 

He fulfilled key roles in the Department of Paediatrics and Child Health such as chair of the Human Resources Committee and as a member of the Senate of the College of Paediatrics of the SA Colleges of Medicine. He was in addition a member of the Occupational Health and Safety Committees of the Tygerberg Hospital and the Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Stellenbosch, a task for which he was excellently equipped with a Diploma in Community Health. He was active in outreach activities and served as chair of the Tygerberg Hospital School Board. Dr Heyns leaves a significant legacy for which he will be remembered and it is tragic and shocking that a man who has given so much in the service of the poor should be the victim of a senseless crime of this nature.

 

Louis Heyns was a much-loved colleague and will be very sorely missed by all who knew and worked with him. The Western Cape Department of Health wishes to convey sincere and deepest condolences to the family of Dr Heyns at this very sad time.