Dis-Chem Foundation and Hot Cares give vision and relief to a courageous boy

At just 13 years old, Du’Juan Mandl has faced more hardship than many do in a lifetime. Born with cataracts and living with both mental and physical disabilities, his journey has been defined by resilience, love, and quiet bravery.

Earlier this year, Du’Juan endured nine harrowing weeks in hospital battling Ulcerative Colitis and the CMV virus — a double blow that significantly impacted his hearing and eyesight. Though his school stepped in to assist with hearing aids, his vision had deteriorated to the point where he could barely see out of his right eye, making daily life and schoolwork even more challenging.

The solution? A critical intraocular lens exchange — a procedure that cost R33,000.

Sylvia, his devoted grandmother and sole caregiver, didn’t hesitate. She took out a personal loan to cover the cost, despite being on short time at work and carrying the financial burden of supporting her medically boarded husband.

But the costs didn’t end there. Once Du’Juan’s eye heals, he’ll need specialised glasses valued at R8,000 to complete his recovery. Without them, the benefits of the surgery may not be fully realised.

At Hot Cares, we were moved by Sylvia and Du’Juan’s story — a beautiful testament to perseverance, unconditional love, and the strength of family. We reached out to our friends at the Dis-Chem Foundation, who were equally touched by this family’s courage and spirit.

Together, we were honoured to step in.

The Dis-Chem Foundation will be covering the full R33,000 loan for Du’Juan’s surgery — and the R8,000 needed for his post-op glasses. That’s R41,000 of weight lifted off Sylvia’s shoulders, so she can continue to focus on what she does best: giving Du’Juan the love, support, and care he needs to thrive.

Du’Juan now has the clear vision he needs to embrace the future with confidence — and a reminder that he’s not alone.

Because when we stand together, we can help our most vulnerable community members focus on what truly matters.

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