Vanessa Mafu, a 15-year-old Zimbabwean girl, is fighting for her life in South Africa. She’s suffering from autoimmune hepatitis, which has progressed to liver cirrhosis, and urgently needs a liver transplant. However, Charlotte Maxeke Hospital in Johannesburg denied her the transplant due to her nationality, citing that Zimbabweans aren’t eligible for organs from deceased South African donors.
Mafu is fighting for her life in South Africa due to autoimmune hepatitis, which has progressed to liver cirrhosis. This condition occurs when her body’s immune system attacks liver cells, leading to scarring and potential liver failure. A liver transplant is the only viable option to save her life, but it’s a costly procedure.
Vanessa’s father, Vuyelwa Ncube, is seeking an urgent court order to compel the hospital to perform the transplant. He’s willing to cover the costs himself and argues that the delay in processing his expired work permit shouldn’t cost his daughter her life. Ncube claims no law was presented to him barring foreign nationals from receiving transplants.
The family’s lawyer, Advocate Simba Chitando, condemns the hospital’s response as “xenophobic, inhuman, and a clear violation of a child’s right to life”. The hospital has discharged Vanessa, worsening her situation. Chitando appeals to Zimbabweans, particularly in the business sector, to help secure a new hospital to stabilize Vanessa while they seek justice.
An urgent court hearing is expected soon, where the family hopes to secure a ruling that could change Vanessa’s fate and impact how foreign patients are treated in South African public hospitals.
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