BuaNews
(Tshwane)
Nthambeleni Gabara
8 October 2008
Pretoria — A bust made of bronze will serve as a reminder for staff and visitors at the Agriculture Research Council to constantly continue their pioneering efforts in animal and plant research.
Agriculture and Land Affairs Minister, Lulu Xingwana unveiled the bust of the first black veterinarian in South Africa, Dr Jotello Soga during the Onderstepoort Pan African Veterinary Conference on Tuesday.
The department erected the bust next to a garden where Dr Soga used to plant his traditional trees and herbs which were used to heal animal diseases.
The minister described Mr Soga as a veteran in Veterinary Science. "His work in fighting Rinderpest in the Eastern Cape during his lifetime should go down the South African history books."
Mr Soga was born in 1865 at the Mgwali Mission in the former Transkei and was educated in Scotland. At the age of 21, he graduated from the Royal College of Veterinary at the University of Edinburgh in 1886.
On his return to South Africa, he worked in Eastern Cape as a field veterinarian. He also conducted research on the many devastating diseases such as Rinderpest and Contagious Bovine Pleuro and Pneumonia.
His interest in Botany led to research in toxicology of plants and their relationship to animal diseases.
Mr Soga also used plants as remedies in his veterinary practice. One of his many achievements was the discovery of Tyrecodon Ventricosus as the causative agent of a major disease of sheep and goats.
The former Governor of the Cape Colony, Lord Alfred Milner also commended Mr Soga for his role on the eradication of Rinderpest.
Although he died at an early age of 41 in 1906, Dr Soga made a huge contribution to veterinary science that still lives to this day.
The bust also forms part of the South African National Veterinary Museum which was officially opened on Monday to recognise the history and the heritage of the Onderstepoort campus.
Ms Xingwana said the initiative will see historians able to capture the importance as well as the history of veterinary science properly.
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