Grade 10 pupil hurt in Wedela shooting still waits for surgery

A Grade 10 pupil from Lesotho who was wounded in the Wedela tavern shooting is still waiting for surgery nearly a month after the attack, The Citizen reported. A bullet remains in his leg, and nobody has told his family when the operation will happen.

What happened to Katleho Malefane

Gunmen opened fire on a tavern in Wedela on 26 September, killing 18 people and wounding 15. Among the wounded was Katleho Malefane, who was standing at the gate of his family’s property, roughly two metres from the tavern. He was hit in the thigh, and the bullet reportedly went through his buttocks. He also suffered a serious knee injury that needs an operation.

The procedure was meant to take place at Leratong Regional Hospital in Krugersdorp. According to the report, it has been held up because of concerns over whether enough operating theatres are working.

Delays and mounting bills

His mother, Molebogeng Malefane, said the operation was due last week. The family was then told that one of the hospital’s two theatres was out of order, and her son was moved back onto the list of patients waiting for surgery. She said he is still in pain.

The hospital reportedly first said treatment would only start once R28 000 towards the bill had been paid. The family has paid R16 000. There is also an unpaid account from Carletonville District Hospital, where the boy spent a month before his transfer.

“The bills keep piling up while the bullet remains lodged in my son’s leg,” Ms Malefane said. She said the Lesotho government and some businesspeople had promised help but then went quiet. She added that she still trusts the hospital to assist her son, but is worried about not knowing a date.

Community group voices frustration

Lillo Joshua Shale of the People’s Forum, which represents Lesotho nationals living and working in South Africa, said the group was very disappointed in both the South African and Lesotho governments. He said the forum approached the Lesotho high commissioner in South Africa without receiving meaningful help, and then turned to the Lesotho parliament through opposition leaders.

Mr Shale said Maseru had promised to settle the bill, but the family had been passed between offices with no result. He also pointed out that the boy was not inside the tavern, and that he should be preparing for year-end exams. The Lesotho representative who had been talking to the family did not answer text messages from the newspaper.

What the health department says

Gauteng health department spokesperson Steve Mabona said the patient is stable and still receiving treatment. He said the family remains in contact with the hospital and talks about the boy’s treatment plan are continuing. He did not give a date for the surgery.

What this means for readers

The case shows how quickly medical costs can build up after a violent incident, particularly for families who are foreign nationals. Families dealing with a similar situation can ask the hospital’s social workers or patient administration office about payment arrangements and what they must pay up front.

This story is based on reporting by The Citizen.