KUGOMPO CITY- The legacy of Princess Nomfuyo Magadla has returned to the corridors of Frere Hospital, where a foundation established in her name has donated surgical masks to support healthcare workers and patients.
The Mama Her Royal Highness (HRH) Princess Nomfuyo Foundation in partnership with Kat Leisure Group, handed over the donation at Ward C11 on 27 August 2026.
The ward holds particular significance for the royal family as it was where Princess Nomfuyo received treatment during her admission to Frere Hospital in December 2023.
Her Majesty Queen Mapotelwa said the princess’s experience at the hospital had inspired the family to return with a contribution to the facility.
“Princess Nomfuyo was admitted to Ward C11 at this hospital in 2023, which is why we are here today,” she said. “She received excellent care at Frere Hospital. Even when she was in pain, she felt at home because of the care, compassion and support she received from the hospital staff.”
The foundation said the donation was intended as an expression of gratitude to the hospital and part of its efforts to keep Princess Nomfuyo’s values of compassion, dignity and service alive.
Furthmore, Frere Hospital Chief Executive Officer Sicelo Msi welcomed the donation, saying masks were among the facility’s most frequently used consumables.
“We really appreciate this donation because masks are among the consumables we use most frequently,” Msi said.
He said the masks would help protect both patients and hospital employees against infections, particularly in wards treating people with different medical conditions.
The foundation also proposed that Ward C11 be renamed after Princess Nomfuyo.
However, hospital management explained that the naming of hospital facilities is governed by institutional and administrative processes and is not a decision that can be taken at hospital level.
Despite the proposal not being accommodated at this stage, the foundation said it would continue to honour the princess through practical acts of service.
“For us, her legacy will ultimately be measured not only through names on buildings or institutions, but through the lives touched in her name,” the foundation said.
The initiative was also supported by Kat Leisure Group, whose operations director in KuGompo, Russell Osner said the partnership created an opportunity to put surplus resources to meaningful use.
Osner said the group had identified linen that could be distributed to people in need rather than being discarded.
“We saw an opportunity to distribute these resources to people in need and to ensure that the linen is put to good use rather than simply being thrown away,” he said.
He said Kat Leisure Group was proud to support the foundation’s community initiatives and had also assisted with transporting the donated items to the Eastern Cape.
The foundation and Kat Leisure Group also paid tribute to Frere Hospital management, healthcare professionals and other staff members for their continued service to communities relying on the facility.
For the foundation, the donation is part of a broader effort to ensure that Princess Nomfuyo’s memory is reflected through action.
Rather than being confined to memorials or names, the organisations said her legacy would be carried forward through compassion, service and practical support for people in need.
Courtesy of IMAGES: Okuhle Nqana
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