Lerato Mosai's ordeal began in 2021 with a toothache that led to the removal of several teeth, but the pain persisted. A dentist noticed swelling on the hard palate of her mouth and referred her for further investigation at Mediclinic Emfuleni Hospital. A biopsy in April 2021 confirmed that Mosai had adenoid cystic carcinoma, a rare cancer that can occur in the salivary glands.
By early 2024, the cancer had progressed, and Mosai returned for specialist treatment. In March 2024, she was admitted to Lenmed Hospital in Lenasia South, where she underwent extensive surgery to remove the tumour and part of her upper jaw. This was followed by radiation treatment. Mosai says she was told that part of her jaw would need to be reconstructed following the cancer surgery.
Mosai's condition has deteriorated significantly, and she is now bedridden and unable to walk or take care of her son. Her mother, Monalisa, says Mosai's health has declined rapidly since the surgery, and she has developed severe pain in her thigh and difficulty walking. Medical records reviewed show that tissue was taken from Mosai's thigh as part of reconstructive surgery, and complications and further procedures are documented.
Mosai and her mother allege that some procedures were carried out without adequate explanation or consent. The medical records include signed consent documentation, but the family disputes whether all the procedures were adequately explained to them before they were performed. Mosai has since taken legal action over her treatment, and her case is pending before the High Court.
Dr. Zain Dangor, the maxillofacial surgeon involved in Mosai's treatment, denies the allegations made against him. His legal representative says the issues will be determined through the court process and that Dangor's professional obligations regarding patient confidentiality prevent him from commenting publicly on Mosai's clinical treatment.
Mosai's family says they had run out of private medical funds by March 2025 and turned to the public health system for help. However, her mother alleges that they were turned away at Fezi Ngubentombi Provincial Hospital in Sasolburg because Mosai did not have her medical history and a referral letter from the private doctors who had treated her.
Mosai is currently receiving care at National District Hospital in Bloemfontein, where she has been assessed by a specialist. According to her family, doctors are examining her legs and reviewing the operations she previously underwent. The Free State Department of Health had not responded to questions about Mosai's treatment at the time of publication.
Key points
- Mosai's rare cancer diagnosis and subsequent treatment have left her bedridden and dependent on her mother for care.
- Mosai's family alleges that some medical procedures were carried out without adequate explanation or consent.
- Mosai's case is pending before the High Court, with Dr. Zain Dangor denying the allegations made against him.
