Hamilton Naki, a laboratory assistant to cardiac surgeon Christian Barnard, dies

Updated: 26 May 2020

Hamilton Naki was a gardener who later became a laboratory assistant without any formal training. He first worked for Robert Goetz, who asked him to assist him in the laboratory instead of gardening. Having started with just assisting with the animals and cleaning cages, Naki later began anesthetizing the animals and assisting with surgeries. When Goetz left, Naki began working with Chris Barnard, the doctor who would perform the first heart transplant in South Africa. Those who have worked with Naki described him as a very talented and skilled for someone who didn’t have any formal training. He would often perform amazing surgery work on animals quite effortlessly. After his death, it was claimed that he had assisted Dr Chris Barnard on his first successful heart transplant. The claim was later refuted and subsequently retracted. Naki died on 29 May 2005.

How we know this

01The Economist, 'Obituary Hamilton Naki', [online], Available at: https://www.economist.com [Accessed on 20 May 2013]
02The Telegraph, 'Hamilton Naki', [online] Available at: https://www.telegraph.co.uk [Accessed on 20 May 2013]

Last updated · 26 May 2020

Cite this entry

South African History Online. (2013, May 24). Hamilton Naki, a laboratory assistant to cardiac surgeon Christian Barnard, dies. South African History Online. https://sahistory.org.za/ref/E-0095722

South African History Online (2013) 'Hamilton Naki, a laboratory assistant to cardiac surgeon Christian Barnard, dies', South African History Online, 24 May. Available at: https://sahistory.org.za/ref/E-0095722 (Accessed: 7 October 2026).

South African History Online, Hamilton Naki, a laboratory assistant to cardiac surgeon Christian Barnard, dies [website], https://sahistory.org.za/ref/E-0095722, (accessed 7 October 2026).

"Hamilton Naki, a laboratory assistant to cardiac surgeon Christian Barnard, dies." South African History Online, 24 May 2013, https://sahistory.org.za/ref/E-0095722. Accessed 7 Oct. 2026.

South African History Online. "Hamilton Naki, a laboratory assistant to cardiac surgeon Christian Barnard, dies." South African History Online. May 24, 2013. https://sahistory.org.za/ref/E-0095722.