Director of city health found dead in his home

By Nadia Samie
25 March 2008

Cape Town’s Director of City Health, Dr Ivan Toms was found dead in his Mowbray home on Tuesday morning.

Police spokesperson Inspector Billy Jones says there is no sign of forced entry or robbery at the Strubbens Street home. The discovery was made by members of the city's VIP Protection Unit and the Mowbray police at about 9:30AM. This after Dr Toms’ colleagues became concerned about him when he did not pitch up for for an important meeting on Tuesday.

Toms' body was found in his bed, clad in a blue T-shirt. There were no signs of injury to his body nor were there signs of breaking and entering on the property. Foul play is not suspected, police say. An inquest docket has been opened for investigation at the Mowbray police station.

In a statement the Western Cape Health MEC Pierre Uys says:
"Public Healthcare had a great champion in Dr Toms. He will always be remembered for the enormous contribution he made to healthcare in our province and country. He was a member of both the Western Cape Health Council and the Aids Council in which he made played a significant role. Dr Toms also worked tirelessly to improve the quality of the personal primary healthcare services provided by the City of Cape Town."

Dr Toms was born in Cape Town in 1953. He was awarded the The Order of the Baobab in Bronze from the state president in 2006 for what was described as his, “outstanding contribution to the struggle against Apartheid and sexual discrimination.”

According to the presidency's website, Dr Toms completed his medical degree at the University of Cape Town in 1976. This was followed by a year-long medical internship at Kimberley Hospital. In 1978, Toms was conscripted to serve in the South African Defence Force (SADF) and later became active in the End Conscription Campaign.

He worked as a doctor for over a decade in the Crossroads squatter camp in the Cape Flats. At one point he was the only doctor seeing to over 60 000 patients.

Dr Toms was last seen alive by his neighbours on Thursday. He leaves behind a brother who resides in Australia.

Picture credit: http://andrejkoymasky.com