The sudden passing of Dr Ferhan Khan (47) due to a heart attack on Tuesday morning 15 November left many in the Kuils River community in shock and disbelief.
As the news spread across social media platforms many of his patients and others who knew him expressed sadness and shared personal recollections of the impact he had on their lives.
Many said he was more than a doctor – one of few who still did house calls, a people’s person, caring, gentle, compassionate, insightful, and a confidant who felt like part of their families.
Khan worked as a general practitioner (GP) from 1 Wenlock Street in Sarepta since 2005 before moving his practice to Church Street in November last year.
He is survived by his wife Dr Yasmeen Klocke and three children, Bilal (14), Sabiya (12) and Laylah (9).
An example
A celebration to honour the life of Dr Khan was held at the hall of Sarepta Secondary School on Saturday 19 November.
Eunice Mettler, deputy principal said it was an honour for the school to host the event.
Iman Omar Effendi thanked the organisers for arranging the celebration event to help the community gain understanding and closure. Effendi said in his message Khan contributed to the upliftment of humanity and set an example through the many things he had achieved in his lifespan of 47 years.
“May God guide us by this beautiful example He shared with us for the time we are given in this world, to make amendments and contributions to the benefit and upliftment of community and humanity.”
Effendi read a message from Khan’s wife who thanked the community for the event “set aside in honour of my husband” and for the many messages and flowers she received.
Klocke said all will have their own story of him, but “we can all agree on what an amazing, phenomenal human being he was. Every day of his life was a celebration of life.”
She said when he considered further studies, she told him he was already a specialist in his field.
“He was born to do this work and I could never imagine him doing anything else. He loved people, all people. He treated every single person with the utmost respect and care – he always went the extra mile – and somehow it was never an effort for him.
“He cared, consoled, and comforted everyone around him – from strangers to patients to friends, to family members alike.”
Klocke said Khan understood the art of healing and his work in the community made him happy and content.
“He had the ability to maintain a positive attitude no matter the situation. I believe this is the reason so many came to him for advice.”
She said his career blossomed even more when he became involved in TV and radio shows. He served as medical doctor to Survivor SA and co-hosted Goodhope FM’s Covid Diaries during the pandemic.
Klocke said Khan was a caring and loving father who participated in all aspects of his childrens’ lives. His faith was at the core of his being.
“If it was time to return to his creator, he would accept it with honour and courage, that will inspire me as I try to cope each day without him.”
She concluded, “I know the love and the care he showed the community and the appreciation and the respect the community has shown him will remain in our hearts, those beautiful moments, those connections are ours to hold onto forever.”
Conversations
After psychologist Charl Davids received the news of his friend’s passing his phone would not stop ringing. “All the patients started calling me, almost so I could tell them, yes it’s the truth that he died. It became overwhelming for me as in that moment I was sitting with my own loss and shock, then having to console the patients as well.” Davids posted a message on Facebook after which the calls stopped.
He said thinking of Khan reminds him that love is the most precious gift one can ever give or receive – “that is what he epitomized.”
Davids said they shared many conversations at the practice between patients. “He and I never spoke over the phone about patients at all – but on Tuesday morning for the first time since 2005, he phoned me to speak about a patient we both were seeing. Maybe it was God’s way for us to have a last conversation on that Tuesday morning – I appreciate we could have that.”
Davids said during the past three years their conversations centred around the impact of covid. When Davids’ wife was diagnosed with Covid-19 in April 2020 the only treatment was to isolate.
The many conversations he and Khan had led to the realisation that many patients not only struggled with breathing due to respiratory issues but also because of anxiety and panic.
“We gave that feedback to hospitals, and some started to allow psychologists in to treat patients.”
Davids said they also spoke about fatigue experienced during the pandemic. “But almost immediately we would say, we had to carry on attending to the needs of our patients.”
Guardian angel
Susan La Poorta of the children’s home in Sarepta had many eyes tear up when she spoke about Khan’s involvement in caring for the elderly and the home’s children.
When support from government was lacking Khan stepped in to provide free medical care and prescriptions to the elderly at the old age home in Sarepta where La Poorta worked as nursing manager in 2005.
She said Khan was a doctor for the poor and provided hope to children others would ‘write off’. She knew whenever a child fell sick they could call Khan’s secretary, Sandy Croy.
“And the appointment would not be tomorrow or the day after tomorrow. He would fit our children in between his busy schedule. Oh, what a man – I never came across a doctor like Dr.Khan.”
La Poorta said Khan supported them in many ways – often bringing food or toiletries. “He was our guardian angel. He carried our home. He would see all our children – 44 children – without any payment.”
Physiotherapist Laurika Lewis, who met Khan when he was a locum at Dr Solanki’s practice in Highbury and her sister Sonja Lewis (dentist) were very excited when Khan became their ‘work neighbour’ in Church Street.
Laurika said Khan epitomised the thorough diagnostician but never ordered unnecessary tests. “He really took his role as his patients’ primary physician seriously like the captain of a ship – he was holistic in his patient care and it was patient-centred care.” He was also “super clever with the biggest heart and zero ego”, she said.
Sonja said no matter how early she tried to get to her practice, Khan would always be earlier. “When he would leave his practice before us, he would always catch us leaving our practice while he was standing at the robot – smiling and giving a subtle wave as to say, ‘wela-kapela I’m earlier than you’.
‘We would always respond with an energetic wave and goodbye – little did we know that Monday evening would be the last wave at the robot.”
Fighting the tears Sandy Croy recalled how she met Khan as “a tall, dark and handsome young man” about 25 years ago while working as receptionist at Dr Solanki in Highbury where Khan was a regular locum.
“Shortly after Dr Solanki closed his practice and we were retrenched Dr Khan opened his own practice in 2005 and offered me a job.”
Croy said she couldn’t have asked for a better boss and Khan knew he could rely on her.
“His compassion and caring nature as well as his sense of humour endeared him to many – his patients loved him for it.”
Croy said whenever Khan’s patients were referred to hospital he would remind them to call or follow up with the hospital on how the patients were doing. “Doctor had a special place in all our hearts.”
She thanked Khan’s wife and family for sharing him with them. “He was one in a million and has touched more lives than you will know.”
Chair of Kuils River Moslem Community, Ebrahim Sawant, said, “Doc was a stalwart in our community, a giant of a man.” Sawant said Khan was also a pioneer as one of the founders of the Durbanville Islamic Society.
