A single screening in Empangeni two decades ago sparked a movement that has transformed thousands of lives across South Africa, fixing not just smiles but providing futures rewritten with confidence and possibility.
South Africa (20 March 2026) – Twenty years ago, a health screening held in Empangeni in northern KwaZulu-Natal saw many families stand in line with hopes to receive free cleft surgery that would transform their lives forever.
The year was 2006, and 59 individuals finally had the chance to smile confidently again through Operation Smile South Africa (OSSA). Among them was a young boy named Siyabonga.
When his mom saw her newborn son for the first time, she was shocked. She had never seen a cleft lip or palate before. All she knew was that her child needed help. But she could not find help anywhere.
For two long years, she searched – until she finally heard about Operation Smile. Little Siyabonga received his cleft lip surgery at Rob Ferreira Hospital in Mbombela. And two years later, he had his cleft palate surgery at iNkosi Albert Luthuli Central Hospital in Durban.
“My boy has been fine ever since then,” his mom says with a smile.
“Thank you, Operation Smile, for helping me when I lost hope. Siyabonga is now confident to play with other children, and is doing well at school.”
Since that first impactful outreach, OSSA has facilitated over 6,000 cleft patients across South Africa and beyond. Where a surgery that can take as little as 45 minutes has transformed entire futures.
For two decades, OSSA has been more than an organisation. It has been a lifeline.
A lifeline for children born with cleft conditions, who struggle to eat, speak, or even smile. A lifeline for parents who once felt fear and uncertainty, now replaced with hope.
These surgical programmes have also provided hands-on training opportunities, which empower local healthcare professionals in underserved areas with the skills they need to treat cleft conditions in their own communities.
OSSA has come a long way, but the mission continues – because thousands of lives with cleft conditions are still waiting for care.
To help this team move closer to a future where every child has access to the treatment they need, visit OSSA’s website for more information or to donate.
Sources: Operation Smile South Africa
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