Local Portuguese man in Trichardt meets sister for the first time in 40 years and dies a few weeks later

The Portuguese man, Mr José Macedo (71), who saw his sister, Ms Laudet Santana, for the first time in 40 years on Tuesday, 4 December, died on Sunday, 23 December.
The Ridge Times reported on Mr Macedo meeting his sister in the last edition of last year’s newspaper.

Mr Macedo had TB and cancer. The family where he was staying at Trichardtsfontein Dam, took him to the hospital more than once since he met his sister. With the help of the Portuguese community, they found a place for him in an old age home in Johannesburg.
However, he just spent one day in the old age home after he was discharged from the hospital before he died.
His memorial service was held on Friday, 28 December in Johannesburg.
Mr Macedo was involved in an accident in Transkei about 40 years ago and was in a coma in the hospital for three months.
He could not remember where his home was when he was discharged from hospital and had nowhere to go.
He ended up in a shelter in Port Elizabeth.
His family was looking for him but thought he was dead when they could not locate him after several years.

It was a happy reunion when the family where Mr Macedo was staying for the past few years, Mr Hennie and Ms Jackie Fourie, managed to locate his sister and brother.
His sister lives in Durban and traveled to Secunda to see Mr Macedo.
Mr Macedo’s sister, Ms Santana, cried when she saw her brother for the first time in 40 years in December.