Mbombela, Mpumalanga — Tristan was critically injured in a car accident on 21 February 2026 and is currently fighting for his life at Rob Ferreira Hospital. Close friends and family have launched a crowdfunding campaign to raise R500,000 for an urgent transfer to Mediclinic Nelspruit, where he can receive advanced neurological care and potential surgical intervention.
The accident involved Tristan and four friends. Since then, he has remained in critical condition, suffering from severe brain trauma and continuous seizures as doctors work to stabilise him.
Medical teams at Rob Ferreira Hospital have provided emergency care, but his condition now requires specialised neurological support that may only be available at a private facility. According to those close to the family, the transfer could significantly impact his treatment options and long-term outcome.
A Family at His Bedside
Tristan’s loved ones describe him as someone who is consistently present for others, dependable, kind and deeply loyal. Since the accident, his family has remained at his bedside, navigating the emotional strain of uncertainty while focusing on securing the care he urgently needs.
The campaign, launched just one day ago, has already raised R29,160 from 39 donors — an early sign of community support. However, the R500,000 target reflects the high cost of emergency transfer, intensive neurological treatment and possible surgical procedures.
Why the Funds Are Needed
The funds will be used for:
Emergency transfer to Mediclinic Nelspruit
Specialist neurological care
Potential brain surgery
Intensive care unit costs
Ongoing treatment and monitoring
Severe traumatic brain injuries require rapid and specialised intervention. Access to advanced neurological facilities can influence both survival and long-term recovery outcomes.
Community Support in Action
Messages of support have begun to pour in as friends and extended community members rally around Tristan and his family. For his loved ones, this early momentum provides encouragement during an otherwise overwhelming time.
While his medical team continues to monitor his condition hour by hour, his supporters are focused on ensuring that financial barriers do not stand in the way of critical care.
A Race Against Time
At present, Tristan remains in a fragile state. His family’s priority is securing the transfer and specialist treatment as quickly as possible.
The coming days will be crucial — not only medically, but in mobilising the community support needed to give him the best possible chance at recovery.
Welkom, Free State — Zian Botha, a 12-year-old boy from Welkom, has been diagnosed with epilepsy caused by non-functioning brain tissue, leaving him in need of urgent brain surgery in Cape Town. His family has launched a crowdfunding campaign to raise R150,000 to help cover specialist consultations, advanced testing, hospital costs and the procedure itself.
His medical journey started in May 2025, when he started experiencing unexpected seizures. What initially brought fear and confusion soon developed into months of hospital visits, tests and uncertainty.
Despite treatment efforts, his condition has progressed. Days differ — some days he experiences four seizures, and on more severe days, up to 12 seizures.
After being referred to Dr Butler in Cape Town for advanced assessments, the family finally received answers. Specialists determined that a portion of Zian’s brain is no longer functioning, triggering the seizures.
Epilepsy seizures are primarily classified into two main types: generalized seizures and focal seizures, each with distinct characteristics and symptoms. Zian presents with symptoms of both types and is resistant to medication, leaving surgery as the only viable option to improve his quality of life and prevent further neurological damage.
Doctors have stressed that the brain surgery is very urgent. With every seizure, he loses bit-by-bit brain function. If the surgery is delayed, more of his brain tissue can be damaged. He already experiences spasm episodes, struggles to breathe during seizures, and has no control of his body function.
A Childhood Interrupted
Since his diagnosis, Zian’s life has changed significantly. Once able to attend school and participate in everyday activities, he now faces restrictions aimed at reducing seizure risk.
He is unable to attend school regularly and cannot participate freely in sports or play. He is not allowed to play outside because the seizures have no timeframe or warning. Simple routines are overshadowed by the constant possibility of another seizure.
What he misses most is “to play like a normal child and to go to school.”
For his parents, the emotional weight has been immense.
“As parents, hearing that your child needs brain surgery is devastating,” the family shared. “Our biggest wish is simply to see Zian live a normal, healthy childhood again.”
Turning to Community Support
Although the family has medical aid, critical elements of the required care — including specialist consultations and surgery in Cape Town — fall outside their medical aid network. As a result, significant costs must be covered privately.
The BackaBuddy campaign, titled Bring Back Zian’s Childhood, was launched one month ago. To date, R37,000 has been raised from 61 donors, reaching 19% of the R200,000 goal.
Funds will go toward:
Specialist consultations
Advanced brain scans and diagnostic tests
Hospital and surgical expenses
Post-surgery recovery care
They expect to have a more accurate figure around 5 March, following a final consultation with the neurosurgeon ahead of the estimated procedure dates on 9 and 13 March.
Zian’s parents remain focused on one goal: giving their son the chance to grow up without his life being defined by seizures.
“Thank you so much for all the help so far, especially my family and friends,” they shared. “They all keep Zian in their prayers and we pray that God will protect us and the doctors treating him.”
They are hopeful that community support will help ease the financial burden and allow them to focus on his recovery.
When he outgrew his old chair, Elijah’s family knew that he would need a lightweight, custom-fit wheelchair designed specifically for his growing body and active spirit. Paediatric wheelchair fundraising in South Africa is quite a niche crowdfunding category to most people, but Elijah’s family knew they would find a community of support on BackaBuddy. And within weeks of launching their campaign, donors came together to raise almost R40,000.
On International Wheelchair Day, 6-year-old Elijah received something life-changing. To most of us, we might see his new wheelchair and think, “nice,” before moving on. But this wheelchair is giving Elijah something most of us take for granted every day: the freedom of movement. Elijah could finally return to school safely, move confidently, and keep up with the speed he loves so much.
Elijah’s story highlights something most able-bodied people don’t realise: Not all wheelchairs are created equally, and for children, a custom-fit wheelchair is not a luxury; it’s a necessity.
Why a “Standard” Wheelchair Often Isn’t Enough for a Child
Paediatric wheelchairs are fundamentally different from adult-sized, generic, or hospital-issued chairs. Children are still growing, and their bodies change rapidly. Additionally, their posture, spine alignment, muscle tone, and balance all require careful support. When a child’s wheelchair is poorly fitted, it can:
Cause long-term spinal damage
Create pressure sores
Limit independence
Increase risk of tipping or injury
Restrict participation in school and sport
Lead to secondary health complications
Elijah’s previous chair was heavy, unstable, and, for a six-year-old little boy who loves independence, that matters. By securing a custom paediatric wheelchair, Elijah’s family were able to give him a mobility aid that:
Matched this exact measurements
Offered him better balance
Supports his posture and muscle development
Allows for safe mobility when he’s at school and outdoors
Grows and adjusts with his body
For children like Elijah, mobility is the foundation of their development. It builds up their confidence and allows them to participate and get involved in and outside of school.
Environmental Barriers & Paediatric Wheelchairs
Elijah’s story isn’t unique. Earlier this year, Sikholelwe’s campaign, Keep Her in School: The Segway Challenge, highlighted another side of the same issue. Living in a rural area with thick beach sand and no accessible transport, Sikholelwe’s standard wheelchair simply couldn’t cope. This meant that her mother had to carry her to school every day. A school that is 3kms away from her home. Without a solution, she risked dropping out entirely.
The answer arrived in the form of an adapted Segway. Custom-built through AddMobility in the UK, the mobility aid is capable of navigating sand, rural terrain, and long distances independently. Her campaign raised over R161,000 to secure that life-changing equipment. Read more about Sikholelwe’s campaign.
Why Are Custom Paediatric Wheelchairs in South Africa So Expensive?
The public health system in South Africa often cannot cover the high costs associated with these specialised wheelchairs. And caregivers with medical insurance know that most only partially fund them. This leaves families scrambling to find ways to bridge that financial gap. If you’re wondering why these mobility aids are so costly, the answer is surprisingly simple:
Their lightweight frames are made from high-end aluminium or titanium
The seating systems are typically customised which requires more time and skill from the manufacturer
They’re designed to adjust as the child grows, making them a long-term investment
Most come with built-in postural support cushions made from high quality materials
The unique anti-tip safety mechanisms require highly skilled manufacturing
Some paediatric wheelchairs have special wheels for difficult terrain
Often parts are not locally manufactured and need to be imported from Europe and America
Remember: Before reaching out to an organisation for assistance, ensure that you’ve consulted with an occupational therapist, a rehabilitation specialist or a paediatric physiotherapist. Clinical assessments will ensure that your child’s wheelchair is right for their needs.
5 Steps to Help You Raise Funds for a Wheelchair on BackaBuddy
Wheelchair campaigns perform particularly well on BackaBuddy because the need is clear, the fundraising outcome is tangible and donors can easily see the impact their support will have. If you’re thinking about starting a crowdfunding campaign for a wheelchair, here are five tips that will set you up for success.
1. Explain Why the Current Chair Isn’t Suitable
Be specific about why the current wheelchair is no longer suitable. When drafting your fundraising story, consider your child’s growth, the impact their current wheelchair has on their development, their access to education and their safety. If you’re unsure of where to start, take a look at this example from Sikholelwe’s campaign:
Sikholelwe’s mom carries her to school and back daily. But she is getting older and Sikholelwe is getting heavier! Without a transport solution soon, Sikholelwe runs the risk of dropping out of school.
Her current rural three wheeler wheelchair negotiates short bits of sand grudgingly, and cannot even be dragged backwards for 3km (it is easier to piggy back her). The current ‘motorized’ power chairs do not even cope with a little bit of sand. The family is too poor to maintain any donated quadbike or vehicle and live 35km from the closest mechanic or fuel station. But they have electricity. And the area is very remote and safe.
2. Break Down the Costs
Donors love transparency because it builds trust., They want to know that there’s a real person behind the campaign with very real needs. Elijah’s family included a copy of the quote they received for the wheelchair they needed and Sikholelwe’s campaign contextualized her story, the challenges she faced, and what was needed perfectly using videos, images and text. If you’re not sure where to start, consider the basics, for example:
Base chair price
Custom seating adjustments
Import or shipping fees
Therapy assessments
3. Share Photos or Video
Visual aids help tell your story and bring donors closer to your world, and your needs. In addition to the practical images like quotes and medical bills, include pictures that highlight the current limitation you’re facing. Record a video, load it on YouTube and share the link to your campaign page.
Top Tip: If you’re unsure how to embed videos on your BackaBuddy campaign page, this guide will help.
4. Highlight Independence
Reading Elijah’s story and the learning more about what his new wheelchair made possible is a wonderful example of what freedom of movement means for children with a disability. His campaign, like Sikholelwe’s was about funding independence. That’s why easier access to mobility aids matter so much.
5. Share Campaign Milestones Milestones
Another great way to keep your donors engaged is through campaign updates. You can update your donors directly on your BackaBuddy page. We understand that the emotional cost of trying to secure help for your child is time consuming but if you can make a little time to share an update, it helps so much. Not only do they keep your fundraising momentum going, they also bring your donors into your world, which encourages repeated giving and more shares. Here are a few key moments to note when thinking about when to update your donors.
25% funded: At this point, you’re a quarter of the way there. Thank the donors who have already given and remind your community of what the funds raised will enable.
Order placed: That first moment when you finally feel the relief after ordering the wheelchair is so powerful. You could record a short video, share a picture of the shipping update, or just write a few words to let donors know that the miracle they helped fund is on the way.
Chair received: This is perhaps the best moment to film a video or take loads of pictures. The relief of ordering the chair has passed and now it’s finally arrived, share that joy with the people who made it possible.
First day back at school: This is the true impact of the support your campaign has received, not the funds raised, but what those funds made possible. Let your donors know it went, share the little moments as you fumbled to assemble the chair or the confusion when you first read those usage instructions.
People didn’t show up for you because you needed the money, they showed up because they wanted to be part of a life-changing story. Campaign updates are how you tell that story.
One Last Thing Before You Go
If your child, or someone in your community, needs a specialised wheelchair, know that you are not alone. Thousands of South Africans have rallied behind mobility campaigns on BackaBuddy, proving that when the need is clear and the impact is visible, people respond. Because every child deserves a chair that keeps up with their spirit.
Randburg, South Africa: An extraordinary wave of community support has emerged following the passing of David Sejobe, a long-serving front-of-house security officer at the MultiChoice Randburg office, whose warmth, kindness, and humanity left a lasting impression on all who encountered him.
In response to his passing, colleagues and community members launched a BackaBuddy crowdfunding campaign to support the Sejobe family during this time of loss. Within just three days, the campaign raised over R400,000, surpassing its original R20,000 goal by more than 2,000%, through contributions from over 1,038 unique donors, reflecting the profound impact David had on those around him.
David had been a familiar and cherished presence at the MultiChoice Randburg office since 2015. Known for his welcoming smile and genuine care for others, he consistently created moments of connection that went far beyond his professional role. For many colleagues and visitors, David was a daily source of encouragement, someone who made people feel seen, valued, and uplifted.
Tributes shared by donors describe him as a “ray of sunshine”, a deeply selfless individual, and a man whose compassion and faith guided the way he treated others. Many contributors noted that even brief interactions with David left a lasting impression, underscoring how quietly and consistently he lived out his values.
The funds raised through the campaign will assist with any additional expenses, as well as provide immediate support to David’s family as they navigate the emotional and practical realities of their loss. Organisers emphasise that the campaign was created to ensure the family does not face this difficult period alone.
While the financial goal was modest, the response has been overwhelming, transforming the campaign into a collective act of remembrance and solidarity. The scale of support has offered comfort not only to the family, but also to colleagues and community members seeking a meaningful way to honour David’s life.
With 11 days remaining in the campaign, organisers continue to encourage those who are able to contribute or share the campaign, noting that every gesture of support helps sustain the family in the weeks ahead.
To support the Family, visit the BackaBuddy campaign link here: https://www.backabuddy.co.za/campaign/supporting-the-sejobe-family-in-memory-of-david
When generosity moves across categories, visibility matters more than ever.
When someone donates on BackaBuddy, it can feel like a single act.
One campaign.
One story.
One moment.
But generosity on our platform is never isolated. At any given time, thousands of campaigns across multiple categories are being supported, different communities, different needs, different seasons of urgency. What donors don’t always see, unless we show them – is the broader ecosystem their contribution strengthens. And that visibility matters. Because trust is not built through a single update. It is built through consistent, category-wide transparency.
The Bigger Picture: Category-Level Momentum
Behind every individual campaign sits a wider network of care. Since the beginning of the year, donations have flowed across health, education, sport, memorial campaigns, animal welfare, and disaster response, each one reinforcing platform-wide trust.
Here’s a snapshot of what that momentum looks like:
Animal welfare campaigns consistently show that donors step up for lives that cannot ask for help themselves.
Milestone-based updates, rescues completed, relocations finalised, rehabilitation underway – matter because outcomes are tangible.
Why Updates Strengthen Trust
When donors can see:
How support is flowing across categories
Which causes are gaining momentum
Where urgency is concentrated
How stories evolve after the initial donation
They understand something important: They are part of something larger than a single transaction.
Category-level transparency helps:
Reinforce trust in the platform
Reduce uncertainty
Encourage repeat giving
Normalise asking for help
Demonstrate measurable scale
Visibility reduces hesitation. It turns first-time donors into long-term supporters.
Moving Beyond Individual Updates
Individual campaign updates remain essential. But we are strengthening something alongside them: ecosystem visibility. Because when a donor supports a medical campaign, they are also:
Strengthening category credibility
Contributing to platform-wide trust signals
Encouraging other families to seek help
Increasing the likelihood of repeat giving
Every donation strengthens more than one story. And donors deserve to see that.
What This Means Going Forward
We are committed to ensuring that:
Donors are never left in silence
Updates reflect both individual and broader impact
Category trends are visible
Nationally amplified stories are shared
Impact is contextualised, not isolated
Trust is not built through one update. It is built through consistency.
A Final Reflection
Across medical support, education, sport, memorial campaigns, animal welfare, and the many others, thousands of acts of generosity have already moved through BackaBuddy this year.
Each one mattered.
But what matters just as much is that donors understand the scale of what they are part of.
Transparency is not about volume.
It is about clarity, consistency, and showing donors exactly how their generosity fits into something bigger.
Thank you for helping us build a culture of transparent, people-powered giving.
