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- Former petty officer Dudley Malgas died at Wynberg Military Hospital 2 after falling ill.
- He had chronic liver disease and contracted Covid-19 about three months ago.
- Malgas retired last year after firing the Cape Town noon gun for 22 years.
Former Chief Petty Officer of the Navy family, Dudley Malgas, who died Sunday, says he will always be remembered for his great heart and generous spirit.
Malgas died at Military Hospital 2 in Wynberg on Sunday after falling ill Sunday afternoon.
He retired last year after firing the Cape Town noon gun on Signal Hill for 22 years.
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Family spokeswoman and niece Lynn Malgas said she had chronic liver disease for some time and was taking medication. He contracted Covid-19 about three months ago.
“The Covid hit him hard because every now and then he was having a hard time breathing and he was in and out of the hospital,” Lynn said.
Recovered
The 61-year-old never fully recovered even after his second coronavirus test came back negative.
Lynn said her uncle had relied on an oxygen machine, which the hospital advised to be on all the time.
“Last night [Sunday], things changed when he became very ill and his wife rushed him to the hospital where he died, “the 42-year-old told News24.
Malgas had served in the army for 39 years.
Dudley Malgas and his wife Estelle Malgas. Supplied
“My uncle lived his life to the fullest until the end,” said Malgas, whose voice brightened a bit as he described his legacy.
She said that he had always given back to others and was a person of great community, especially in the Bo-Kaap.
“It is so sad that due to Covid-19, we were unable to return anything to him, due to regulations. Only his wife could be there for him,” he added.
Malgas leaves behind his wife, Estelle Malgas, two daughters and four sons.
He will be interred Saturday at the Evangelical Lutheran Church on Strand Street.
