{
  "id": 19300650,
  "title": "DIABETES | From suspected sefola to amputation: the foot sore that cost a leg",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/11/10/diabetes-from-suspected-sefola-to-amputation-the-foot-sore-that-cost",
  "topic": "health",
  "section": "Health & Medicine",
  "published": "2026-11-10T07:12:52.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Health-e News",
    "slug": "health-e-news",
    "url": "https://health-e.org.za/2026/11/10/diabetes-from-suspected-sefola-to-amputation-the-foot-sore-that-cost-a-leg/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "In 2021, Themba Sepeng, a 54-year-old resident of Klipgat near Mabopane in the North West Province, experienced a blister beneath his left foot. He sought medical attention at Dr George Mukhari Academic Hospital, but the cause of the blister was not explained to him. A year later, Sepeng developed a similar blister on his toe. His friends advised him that it was not a good omen, a belief known as \"sefola\" in Setswana and Sepedi culture, which refers to a severe, non-healing skin wound or swelling believed to be caused by witchcraft or supernatural forces. He chose the traditional route and consulted a traditional healer instead of seeking Western or medical assistance.\n\nSarah Mahasha, a traditional healer in Refentse, Hammanskraal, who has been practicing for 35 years, explained that the appearance of a wound determines its treatment. Some wounds cannot be addressed with herbal balms, and in such cases, traditional healers must refer patients to Western medical treatment. A study in Tshwane found that traditional health practitioners associated \"sefola\" with sores that do not heal, and they expressed interest in receiving training in biomedical skills.\n\nMisdiagnosis of Sepeng's wound led to worsening health conditions. After three months of traditional treatment, his condition worsened, and he was in unbearable pain. He eventually sought medical assistance, where he was diagnosed with diabetes. Diabetes can cause nerve damage and restrict blood circulation, leading to unnoticed injuries, blisters, or scratches, which can quickly develop into serious ulcers or gangrene. In advanced stages, such ulcers can be life-threatening.\n\nIn early 2023, Sepeng was referred to a specialist, but by then, his wound was severely infected, necessitating amputation of his left leg. The doctors at Legae Private Hospital informed him that the infection posed a threat to his overall health, and amputation was the only viable solution. Sepeng received support from a social worker, who advised amputation, and he was subsequently admitted to the hospital for six months. During this time, he received wound care and rehabilitation assistance.\n\nWith the support of his wife, Naomi, and his late mother, Fredah, Sepeng has adapted to life without his leg. He now manages a local soccer club and drives a car. After his experience, Sepeng encourages people to visit clinics for regular health check-ups and to seek medical assistance early when they notice unusual wounds. He emphasizes that diabetes does not have to be a death sentence and that early intervention can save limbs.",
  "summary": "Health-e News DIABETES | From suspected sefola to amputation: the foot sore that cost a leg When 54-year-old Themba Sepeng developed a second sore on his foot in the space of a year, he followed the advice of his friends and consulted a traditional healer, who attributed it to witchcraft. In 2021, Sepeng, who lives in Klipgat near Mabopane, North West Province, developed a blister beneath his…",
  "key_points": [
    "54-year-old Themba Sepeng develops foot blister in 2021",
    "Traditional healer advises consulting Western medical treatment",
    "Diagnosed with diabetes, undergoes amputation in 2023"
  ],
  "editors_take": "Prioritizing cultural beliefs over clinical diagnosis delays essential medical intervention for diabetic complications, turning manageable skin wounds into life-altering physical disabilities and permanent amputations.",
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}