Dr. Lindiwe Sidali has been a medical doctor for over a decade. In 2018, she conquered all the odds and societal norms by becoming the first black female Cardio-thoracic Surgeon in South Africa and one of the few in Africa.
A cardiothoracic surgeon is a specialist who operates on the heart, lungs and other chest organs.
Dr Sidali was born in a large family of 8, in a small town called Dutywa, in the Eastern Cape. She later on moved to Wonderkop, in the North West Province, where her father used to work as a mineworker.
She matriculated at Rakgatla High School in Wonderkop.
She went on to receive a bursary from the North West Department of Health to study medicine in Cuba, where she obtained a degree as a Doctor of Medicine.
She is known to have completed her Fellowship of Cardiothoracic Surgery at Inkosi Albert Luthuli Central Hospital in Durban.
Dr Sidali is an avid believer in education for all, and free education at that – especially for those from disadvantaged backgrounds.
“I had always been interested in most surgical disciplines, and could not decide what to pursue. But then interesting enough, every time I was on call as a community service or medical officer, there was almost always a patient with a stabbed heart, or chest related trauma and after seeing a heart beating on my hands, I knew that I didn’t want to do anything else but cardiothoracic surgery.”
Sidali is just one of the many South African women who has beaten the odds to achieve success in the medical and surgical fields.
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