Grade 10 pupil shot in Wedela mass shooting still awaits surgery

The bullet remains lodged in his leg. He also suffered a serious knee injury and is being treated in hospital while his family waits for clarity on when the operation will take place.

Surgery delayed at Leratong Regional Hospital

The operation was scheduled to take place at Leratong Regional Hospital in Krugersdorp. However, the procedure was reportedly delayed after the family was told that one of the hospital’s two operating theatres was not functioning.

Malefane’s mother, Molebogeng Malefane, said her son had been due to undergo the operation the previous week, but was placed back on the waiting list.

“He was supposed to undergo the operation last week, but we were told one of the two theatres was not functioning, so he was put back on the waiting list,” she said.

The uncertainty has added to the family’s concern. While Malefane said she had faith that the hospital would assist her son, she said the family had not been given a definite date for the treatment.

For a patient waiting for surgery, a clear treatment plan is important. It helps families understand what will happen next, prepare for possible costs and make informed decisions while treatment continues. In this case, Malefane’s family remains uncertain about both the timing of the operation and the bills connected to her son’s care.

Family facing mounting medical bills

The family was initially told that treatment would only begin after R28 000 had been paid towards the medical bill. They managed to pay R16 000, but Malefane is still waiting for the procedure.

There is also an outstanding account from Carletonville District Hospital, where he was previously admitted for a month. His mother said the bills continued to grow while the bullet remained in her son’s leg.

“The bills keep piling up while the bullet remains lodged in my son’s leg. I hope a Good Samaritan will come forward and help us with the payments,” she said.

Malefane said the Lesotho government and businesspeople had promised to help the family, but that the assistance had not materialised. The unresolved costs have placed additional pressure on the family as it waits for medical treatment.

Mass shooting left 18 people dead

Malefane was among those caught up in the attack in Wedela, where gunmen opened fire at a tavern. The shooting left 18 people dead and 15 others wounded.

Unlike those inside the tavern, Malefane was outside, at the entrance to his family home, when he was struck. The bullet reportedly entered his thigh and passed through his buttocks before remaining lodged in his leg.

The injuries have kept him in hospital and disrupted his schooling. Lillo Joshua Shale, leader of the People’s Forum, an organisation representing Lesotho nationals living and working in South Africa, said the pupil should be preparing for his year-end examinations.

“He is a Grade 10 pupil who should be preparing for his yearend exams, yet his education and future are being jeopardised,” Shale said.

The case highlights how the effects of a mass shooting can continue long after the immediate emergency. For survivors, recovery may involve further operations, extended hospital stays, financial strain and interruptions to education or work. Families may also have to navigate treatment arrangements and medical accounts while trying to support an injured relative.

People’s Forum seeks help from authorities

Shale said the People’s Forum was disappointed with both the South African and Lesotho governments over what it described as a failure to ensure that Malefane received the treatment he needed.

The organisation contacted the Lesotho high commissioner in South Africa and later approached the Lesotho parliament through opposition leaders, according to Shale. He said Maseru had promised to pay the bill, but that the family had since been sent from one office to another without a resolution.

The Lesotho representative who had been in contact with the family did not respond to messages sent about the matter.

Health department says patient is stable

Gauteng Department of Health spokesperson Steve Mabona said Malefane was stable and continued to receive medical treatment.

He said the family remained in contact with the hospital and that discussions about the pupil’s treatment plan were continuing. The statement did not provide a date for the operation.

Until a procedure is scheduled, Malefane remains in hospital with the bullet still lodged in his leg. His family is seeking both a clear medical timeline and assistance with the growing costs linked to his treatment.