19th Mar 2024 11:51:44 AM

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Ado Balombo Bambula
Agnes Wabiwa
Amanda Simanga
Amina Mahamat
Amukelani Dube
Andani Mphaphuli
Anele Nyongwana
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Babalwa Mfengu
Baby Babongile
Bafana Nzima
Basheeba Worlotoe
Benoni
Boipelo Mosegedi
Bongani Madlala
Bongani Phakati
Bonginkosi
Brendan
Busisiwe C
Caroline Gichuki
Chris M
Clara
Deon Slabbert
Emmanuel Lawal
Esihle
Evelyn Minto Essono's
Feleng
Franklin
Fursy Mugobe
Gabriel
Gabriel C
Gamuchirai Vanessa Gohodza
Gloria
Gontise Mogotsi
Habiba
Hatendi Simbe
Helen Matondo
Hlumelo Dondashe
Irene Peta
Jabulani Malungane
Jacques Abrahams
Janine Barends
Jose Mvula
Kagiso Maphoso
Kagiso Mathebula
Kagiso Mphuti
Karabo Thebedi
Kedibone
Kenyan
Kezia Fern Samuel
Kjetil Sandivk Havnen
Koketso Sekuru
Lathlehele
Lee Branco
Liane Grond
Lida Basson
Loide
Londeka Ngidi
Maje
Mbali
Michelle Ecape
Michelle Mthenjwa
Mimi
Mlungisi
Mohau Qumpula
Mpho Maja
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Musa Zwane
Musiwa
Neliswe Radebe
Nelson Tsabalala
Nkosi Ncube
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Nkululeko Jnr
Nomthandazo Shongwe
NonMireille
Nosihle
Nthabiseng
Nyakallo
Oscar Mlondolozi Hadebe
Perlucia
Phillip Lesingaran
Phindile
Piet Moloja
Rachid
Reagan
Rien ne Dit
Rolivhuwa Matodzi
Rose Wambua
Rumbi
Saloma Aphanye
Sameh Chiboub
Samkelo Somi
Samukelo Radebe
Seetsa Mosoma
Seif
Seiso
Selamawit
Shaun
Shaun Hart
Shirley Seqobane
Sicelo
Simamkele
Sithembiso Hlatshwayo
SiyaAndile
Siyabonga Morwasetla
Siyabonga Nokumbi
Siyamthanda
Sizwe
Steven Marakeng Mpyana
Sthabile
Sunday Mukaza
Tapera Jani
Tavonga
Tembakazi
Tendani Yaka
Thando
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Thingo
Thomas
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Tshepiso Maimela
Tshepiso Sekuru
Vhahangwele Matodz
Violet Chibvura
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Vusi Mathibela
William B
Xavier
Yassine Ben Ali
Zanele Jeza
Zianda Ndlovu
Zipho Zwane
Thapelo



Thapelo heading home on 18th May 2011 with a stack of toes and clothes from Mama to me.



Thapelo and toys May 2011



Thapelo on three wheels, Jose on four wheels, February 2011.



Touching an elephants trunk.

Thapelo at 3 years 11 months, in his beautiful Netcare Rehabilitation Hospital pressure garments, went home with a suitcase full of toys and clothes to share with his many relatives, late on 11th March 2010. He is likely to be back at Children of Fire in May 2010.

It is hard to straddle the two worlds of middle class suburbia in Auckland Park and then to sleep again in an East Rand shack.









Thapelo was burned by an exploding paraffin stove near Johannesburg.

Tapera walked into a cooking fire on the ground in Zimbabwe.

At Children of Fire they became friends.



Tapera Jani went to an East Rand squatter camp on 7th January 2010 to say goodbye to his friend Thapelo Phore.

Thapelo only returns to the charity in February 2010 for further assessment and, hopefully, axilla surgery.



Tapera, Thapelo building railway tracks; Londeka on chair. 7 Jan 2010













Here is Kezia with two year old paraffin-stove-explosion survivor Thapelo Phore in her arms.

And burns survivors Feleng (blue don’t ruffle my feathers Tshirt), Sizwe (in grey / red shirt), Karabo (royal blue top) Samkelo (white top)



Thapelo was younger by a couple of months.

Kezia with Thapelo in arms, Karabo at front





Thapelo Phore aged two, was burned when a paraffin stove exploded. He has had various splinting options tried out in September and October 2008 to try to prevent the hand, wrist, inner elbow and axilla contractures from worsening.



Thapelo’s hand was already contracting when he was in hospital on the East Rand and had not yet arrived at Children of Fire.

He is likely to have hand contracture surgery and inner elbow contracture surgery during October or November, at Johannesburg Academic Hospital as he is resisting splinting, especially of the inner elbow.



Thapelo Phore survived a paraffin stove explosion in 2008.



Thapelo usually has hand and arm splints to try to prevent contractures of his burned skin.



Thapelo went for his second set of vaccinations on 14th August 2008.

Gradually we are restoring him to health.







Thapelo Phore came to Children of Fire in July 2008. He is a two year old survivor of a paraffin stove explosion. His family’s East Rand shack has electricity and his injuries were due to load shedding – people are still using lethal paraffin stoves because they need to cook on something with the prolonged power cuts that have become commonplace in South Africa.

Thapelo has hand, arm, shoulder and face injuries.

He will need tissue expansion for his scalp in years to come.

He has hand contractures, especially the index finger; inner elbow contractures and axilla contractures.

Thapelo was placed with the charity under court order but the state provides no financial support for his care.

He has made firm friends with Seiso (3), Zanele (4), Feleng (6) and Sizwe (7) and is picking up English fast.

This material is Copyright © The Dorah Mokoena Charitable Trust and/or Children of Fire , 1998-2024.
Distribution or re-transmission of this material, excluding the Schools' Guide, is expressly forbidden without prior permission of the Trust.
For further information, email firechildren@icon.co.za