The SAIDS Board and Staff are deeply saddened by the passing this morning of Dr Ismail Jakoet.
Dr Jakoet was the first Chairman of the SAIDS Board and also served a term as Board member. He mentored many in the field of anti-doping collection procedures and was a pioneer in the roll-out of sports medicines services to all levels of rugby competition in the country.
Dr Jakoet qualified as a medical doctor at UCT and initially practiced as a general practitioner in Port Elizabeth. In the Eastern Cape he was involved in club and provincial rugby. He served on the then non-racial SA Rugby Union executive for a number of years and would eventually be part of the unified SA Rugby management team as the Chief Medical Officer for Rugby in the country. As a medical professional with expertise in anti-doping, Dr Jakoet was respected and well-known in international sports circles.
At SAIDS, he will be sorely missed for his mentoring advice, sense of humour and down-to-earth nature with staff. His legacy within SAIDS will continue to live on.
May his soul rest in peace.