A care home for distant patients

The Cansa Olea Katleho Care Home in Bloemfontein accommodates cancer patients from the Free State, Northern Cape, Eastern Cape, Lesotho and beyond.With 24 beds, it serves patients living 50km or more from their treatment facility.

Bloemfontein's role as a cancer hub

Bloemfontein serves as a hub for specialised tertiary healthcare across central South Africa and neighbouring Lesotho. In 2025, the city's public oncology facilities treated 1,984 new patient referrals and 22,096 follow-up visits.

Most common cancers treated

The most commonly treated cancers in Bloemfontein's public oncology facilities are cervical cancer, prostate cancer, breast cancer and lung cancer.

Blessing Manju's sudden death

Sixteen year old Blessing Manju, a leukaemia patient at the care home, appeared well before suddenly passing away two days before. He had stayed at the home for four months while receiving chemotherapy.

Manju's treatment and prognosis

Manju had T-lymphoblastic lymphoma and responded incredibly well to initial intensive chemotherapy. Dr Jacques Malherbe, his doctor, said his blood was looking great before he went home for a two week break.

“Everything was going very well and he got his last dose of chemo, his blood was looking great and we said okay, you can go home for two weeks and then come back.”

What happened at home

During his two week break, Manju returned to Bultfontein, about 100km from Bloemfontein. He suddenly became ill and was taken to the local hospital where he had a cardiac arrest, possibly from a blood clot.

The emotional toll on doctors

Dr Malherbe says clinical staff become attached to patients, especially children, because it is a long road. When things go wrong, it is distressing, particularly when a patient relapses.

“Sometimes when you see a patient and it's another relapse, it's like, 'No, please no'.”

Patients from vast distances

Dr Malherbe notes that patients travel vast distances to his ward for specialised cancer treatment. One patient came from Port Nolloth in the Northern Cape, 1,085km away.

Liteboho Sello's diagnosis

Liteboho Sello from Leribe district in northern Lesotho was diagnosed with bone cancer at nineteen years old on his first day as a graphic design student at Limkokwing University in Maseru in 2017.

Sello's initial treatment

Sello started chemotherapy with Dr Malherbe in Bloemfontein in 2018 and had surgery to replace much of the bone in his right leg with metal. He was in remission for three years.

Sello's second diagnosis

After three years in remission, Sello was diagnosed with leukaemia due to a rare complication related to his previous chemotherapy. A stem cell transplant was the only way forward.

Funding barriers between nations

Lesotho's healthcare system would not fund Sello's stem cell transplant, while South Africa's healthcare system would not fund a transplant for a citizen from Lesotho. This created a funding impasse.

Lesotho's debt to South Africa

South Africa and Lesotho signed a memorandum of understanding in 2005 for healthcare referrals. Lesotho's government reportedly owes the Free State Department of Health about R145-million for healthcare services, including cancer treatment.

DKMS Africa steps in

Dr Malherbe approached the blood cancer nonprofit DKMS Africa, formerly known as the Sunflower Fund, which agreed to fund Sello's stem cell transplant procedure.

Groote Schuur's initial refusal

Stem cell transplant services are not offered in Bloemfontein. Doctors at Groote Schuur Hospital in Cape Town initially turned Sello down, citing his poor prognosis and lack of bed capacity.

Malherbe's plea to his mentor

Dr Malherbe phoned Professor Vernon Louw, then head of Clinical Haematology at Groote Schuur Hospital, to plead Sello's case.

“I just want to make sure it's not about the funding, because we've got the funding.”

The pink iPhone and the journey

After Louw agreed, Dr Malherbe bought Sello an overnight Intercape bus ticket from Bloemfontein to Cape Town.

“I can't let this boy go down to Cape Town to get a transplant without a phone.”

Sello's transplant and recovery

In Cape Town, Sello stayed at the Eikehof Cansa home in Athlone for several months.His transplant went extremely well and he returned home to Lesotho in remission for three to four years before eventually relapsing.

Why travel is necessary

Many cancer treatments in South Africa are only available in urban centres like Bloemfontein, Cape Town and Johannesburg.

Early detection matters most

Experts suggest that much emphasis should be placed on early detection of cancer and improving referral pathways.One recent study found that two thirds of breast cancers were only diagnosed once already at an advanced stage.