AngloGold Ashanti, Smile Foundation, Charlotte Maxeke Johannesburg Academic Hospital, and Wits Donald Gordon Medical Centre came together on March 18 to give 12-year-old Eugene Sedibe a smile.

The procedure was performed pro bono by Dr Dimitri Liakos at Wits Donald Gordon Medical Centre.

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Eugene’s mother, Monica, said that although she was nervous, she wanted her child to have the smile he deserved. “This journey has taught me to accept the situation I am in. My child has always been sharp and smart and he was my first child, so being his mother has taught me a lot, especially about navigating through life’s challenges.”

Eugene has never been able to smile, due to a rare neurological condition, Moebius syndrome. Moebius syndrome is a rare condition present from birth that affects the nerves responsible for facial movement. Children with the condition are often unable to smile, blink properly, or express emotion through facial expressions.

For Eugene, this life-changing procedure represents an opportunity not only to regain facial movement but also to experience the emotional connection that a smile brings.

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This landmark surgery forms part of Smile Foundation’s broader commitment to expanding access to specialised reconstructive care for children from underserved communities. Through its collaboration with Wits Donald Gordon Medical Centre, and with the valued support of AngloGold Ashanti, the organisation is helping make highly specialised procedures accessible to children who would otherwise not have the opportunity to receive them. “This partnership is about more than a single surgery,” said Tshidi Xaba-Chabane, COO of Smile Foundation. “It demonstrates what becomes possible when the public and private healthcare sectors, together with committed partners like AngloGold Ashanti, come together to put children first. We are deeply grateful to AngloGold Ashanti for their support in helping make this life-changing care possible for Eugene and so many other children.”

@caxtonjoburgnorth WATCH: AngloGold Ashanti, Smile Foundation, Charlotte Maxeke Johannesburg Academic Hospital, and Wits Donald Gordon Medical Centre stakeholders unite for Smile Week. Video: Asanda Matlhare #Rosebank #Charlottemaxeke ♬ original sound – Caxton Joburg North

As part of this programme, Smile Foundation is also hosting Smile Week at Charlotte Maxeke Johannesburg Academic Hospital, where 17 children will receive life-changing reconstructive surgeries, including cleft lip and palate procedures.

Tumelo Shakawane, vice president of group community relations AngloGold Ashanti, noted that AngloGold Ashanti believed that health is the foundation of human dignity and a catalyst for opportunity. “Our support for Smile Week is more than a donation; it is a commitment to restoring the potential of every child we reach.”

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