Free cleft surgery in Mthatha from 29 October. How to get a spot
Operation Smile and the Eastern Cape health department are offering free cleft lip and palate surgery at Nelson Mandela Academic Hospital in Mthatha from 29 October to 1 November 2026. Here's who qualifies and who to call.
Children and adults with an unrepaired cleft lip or palate can get free specialist surgery at Nelson Mandela Academic Hospital in Mthatha from 29 October to 1 November 2026 (IOL). Operation Smile South Africa is running the programme with the Eastern Cape Department of Health (Good Things Guy).
Families are asked to make contact before the team arrives, not to wait until the week of surgery (Good Things Guy).
How do I get my child seen?
Contact Operation Smile's Vuyo Somdaka on 073 580 6714 or email [email protected] (Daily Dispatch). The organisation's Cape Town office is on 021 447 3608 (Operation Smile).
Operation Smile only helps patients with a cleft lip or palate (Operation Smile).
What are the dates?
- Thursday, 29 October: screening day. Specialists check whether each patient is ready for surgery and safe for anaesthetic, and draw up a treatment plan (IOL).
- Friday, 30 October to Sunday, 1 November: surgery days for patients cleared at screening (IOL).
Who qualifies?
Infants, children and adults living with an unrepaired cleft lip, cleft palate or both (IOL). Patients from across the Eastern Cape and neighbouring areas can apply (IOL).
Surgery is not guaranteed. Each patient is assessed on screening day first (IOL).
Why does surgery matter?
An untreated cleft can make it hard for a baby to feed and gain weight, and can affect speech and hearing as the child grows (IOL). Dental and breathing problems are also common (IOL).
How many patients were helped last year?
At the October 2025 programme in Mthatha, the volunteer team screened more than 40 patients and did 32 cleft operations. This year a third surgery day has been added to fit in more patients (Good Things Guy).
Eastern Cape Health MEC Ntandokazi Capa said the visiting team includes cleft surgeons, anaesthetists, paediatricians, nurses, dentists, speech therapists and psychologists (IOL). Local doctors, nurses and speech therapists will train alongside them (IOL).
Operation Smile South Africa says it has done 6,221 cleft operations since it started working in the country in 2006 (IOL).
FAQ
When is the free cleft surgery programme in Mthatha?
From 29 October to 1 November 2026 at Nelson Mandela Academic Hospital. Screening is on Thursday 29 October and surgeries run from Friday 30 October to Sunday 1 November.
Who can get free cleft surgery in Mthatha?
Infants, children and adults with an unrepaired cleft lip, cleft palate or both. Every patient is screened first to check they are ready and safe for surgery.
How do I register for the Operation Smile programme?
Contact Vuyo Somdaka on 073 580 6714 or email [email protected] before the programme starts. Operation Smile's office number is 021 447 3608.
Does the cleft surgery cost anything?
No. Operation Smile South Africa and the Eastern Cape Department of Health are offering the screening and surgery free of charge.