Goodwill recipient was happy after first surgery
Do you know where we can find Sinethemba Qasha?
He is the man who Sowetan readers raised more than R1-million for his reconstructive surgery.
Qasha, 34, from Mzimkhulu in KwaZulu-Natal, has been disfigured from childhood after developing elephantiasis of the face in 2002. After Sowetan reported his plight in March 2013, readers donated money.
The Motsepe Foundation donated R700 000, while the ANC, African Union Communications and the Sandtonbased Nero Hair Salon each gaveR100 000.
Sowetan readers also donatedacombinedR65 000.
Qasha underwent his first surgery in June 2013 after the paper brought him to Johannesburg, where he was assessed by a team at Netcare Sunninghill Hospital.
The operation was performed by surgeons Efthimios Christofides and Martin Kelly.
Adelaide Senabe, Netcare Limited’s corporate social investment project manager, said the last time Qasha came in for his assessment was in June last year.
“[He] arrived in Johannesburg for his overdue follow-up consultation on the 6th of June 2016,” Senabe said.
“[His] condition had deteriorated with very poor personal hygiene [and he was] admitted with immediate effect at Netcare Sunninghill Hospital by Prof Christofides to undergo drainage in his oozing left eye implant,”she said.
Senabe said Qasha needed to complete his treatment.
The money donated towards his surgery remains untouched. Adelaide Senabe, NETCARE LIMITED’S CSI PROJECT MANAGER
“[The treatment will help him] to be well and be re-integrated into society.”
The last time Qasha was seen, he lived at a centre in Boksburg, Ekurhuleni, following a family squabble over the money for his surgery, which remains untouched.
The centre said Qasha left in November last year.
Sowetan deputy editor Mapula Nkosi said: “Qasha’s plea attracted an overwhelmingly positive response... Qasha was overjoyed when the first operation was performed and we all looked forward to travelling this exciting journey with him.
“Since last year, Sowetan made attempts to locate him so that we could document his story to a happy ending.”
Anyone who knows where Qasha is, kindly contact the Sowetan on 011-340-9648 or email mashabas@sowetan.co.za or call Senabe on 011301-0000.
mashabas@sowetan.co.za