Eight nuns succumb to Covid-19 pandemic

In less than two weeks, eight nuns at the Assisi Convent on the KwaZulu South Coast have died from Coravirus.

The nuns, who are members of the Daughters of St Francis in Port Shepstone in the diocese of Umzimkulu, started dying on December 10 with the latest victim having been found dead yesterday morning.

According to Sister Dominica Mkhize, the leader of the congregation, Sisters Elmara Skhakhane (72), Leonissa Nzimande (78), Colleta Msomi (78), Anastasia Mthetwa (86), Amara Madlala (75), Edmunda Nkomo (80) and Helen Cele (88) died of Covid-19. The latest victim cannot be named until her family is informed of her death.

“On December 8 we celebrated our foundation and there were people from various parts of the province in attendance,” Sister Mkhize said.

“We suspect that that is how they may have contracted the virus. The government has sent the provincial health department to assess the situation so we hope that there will be some assistance from them to help the convent deal with the situation.”