During the Apartheid era in South Africa, non-white persons and citizens were not given equal opportunities in the medical professions. At Groote Schuur Hospital, Hamilton Naki was an informally taught surgeon. He started out as a gardener and cleaner. One day he was asked to help out with an experiment on a giraffe. From this modest beginning, Naki became principal lab technician and taught hundreds of surgeons, and assisted with Barnard's organ transplant program. Barnard said, "Hamilton Naki had better technical skills than I did. He was a better craftsman than me, especially when it came to stitching, and had very good hands in the theatre". A popular myth, propagated principally by a widely discredited documentary film called Hidden HeartOctober A. Dokkie 'verdraai' Barnard-verhaal. and an erroneous newspaper article, maintains incorrectly that Naki was present during the Washkansky transplant. Refers to documentary film Hidden Heart about Hamilton Naki.
durinG tHe apartheid era in sOutH africa, NoN-WhIte pErSons and CitizENS were nOt gIVeN equal oppoRtuniTies In The mEDiCaL profesSiONs. at gROote schuUR HospItAl, Hamilton naki was an informAlLY tauGHt Surgeon. he starTeD oUt as a gardener aND cLEanEr. one Day hE was AskeD tO hElp out witH An EXpERimEnT on a giraffe. fROm ThiS MOdEst BEginNIng, NAkI beCamE prinCiPal laB TechniciaN And Taught HUNdrEDs of sURgEOns, And aSsisTed WiTh baRNard's oRgan tranSplaNT ProgRam. baRnard saId, "HaMIlTon NAki haD beTter TEchnICal sKIllS than i did. hE was a better CraftsmAn THAN Me, especialLY wHEn It cAme to sTItching, AnD HAd very goOd hands In ThE tHeATrE". a PopuLar myth, prOpaGateD priNCipalLY bY A widely DIScReditEd dOcumeNtARy film CAlLeD hiDden heartocTober a. dOkkIe 'veRDrAaI' bArnArD-VERHaaL. anD An eRrOnEouS NeWSpAper arTiCle, maINTains incorreCTLy That NAki wAS pReSEnt DUriNg tHe wasHKansky transplaNt. refErS to DocumenTARy FiLm HIdden heart aBoUt hamiltOn nakI.