Freedom in motion: helping Kamogelo move forward

At just 17 years old, Kamogelo’s life was irrevocably changed by a tragic car accident on his way home from school. The crash left him with a C4/5 vertebral dislocation and quadriplegia, requiring multiple surgeries, a tracheostomy, extended time on a ventilator, and even resuscitation after cardiac arrest.

Yet through it all, Kamogelo has shown a remarkable will to live — and to thrive.

When the Hot Cares team met him at Mediclinic Muelmed’s Rehabilitation Unit, it was clear that Kamogelo’s spirit is as strong as ever. “The thing that makes me happy is that I’m alive,” he said with a smile that lit up the room. His occupational therapist, Candice Smith, described how access to a temporary powered wheelchair had already transformed his life: “He’s engaging with people again. He’s even visiting nurses and catching sunshine on his own. It’s given him back a part of himself.”

But that temporary chair isn’t a permanent solution. Kamogelo requires a specialised motorised wheelchair with a tilt-in-space function and a custom backrest — a chair that would allow him to manage pressure relief independently, support his spinal alignment, and give him the mobility needed to return to school and reclaim his future.

Medical aid could only cover a small portion of the cost — but we knew we could do more.

That’s why Hot Cares is proud to cover the full R96,000 cost of Kamogelo’s custom-built wheelchair. “Getting an electric is like working again,” he said. “It gives me freedom.”

Kamogelo, you’ve already inspired us with your strength. Now it’s your turn to move forward — with freedom, dignity, and hope.