Daily Maverick reports on the extensive travel required for cancer treatment in South Africa, where patients from inland regions and neighboring Lesotho frequently journey to urban hubs for specialized care. The publication highlights the Cansa Olea Katleho Care Home in Bloemfontein, which provides accommodation for patients living more than 50 kilometers from their treatment facilities. According to the report, the home serves residents from the Free State, Northern Cape, Eastern Cape, and Lesotho, offering a residential space while they undergo treatment at public or private hospitals.

Mondli Mvambi, a spokesperson for the Free State Department of Health, stated that local public hospitals handled nearly 2,000 new oncology referrals in 2025, alongside over 22,000 follow-up appointments. He noted that cervical, prostate, breast, and lung cancers are the most frequently treated conditions. The report describes the emotional impact of these long journeys, citing the case of 16-year-old leukaemia patient Blessing Manju, who died after returning home to Bultfontein for a treatment break. Ian’sha de Vasch, the care home coordinator, described Manju as "The talkative one, the funny one, the one who takes on challenges," according to Daily Maverick.

The series also details the journey of Liteboho Sello, a patient from Lesotho who traveled to Cape Town for a stem cell transplant. Dr. Jacques Malherbe, who leads the clinical haematology division at the University of the Free State, explained that Sello’s case highlighted the bureaucratic and financial hurdles of cross-border care. Although a 2005 memorandum of understanding exists between South Africa and Lesotho, Lesotho reportedly owes the Free State Department of Health approximately R145-million for services. Malherbe arranged for Sello to travel by bus to Groote Schuur Hospital in Cape Town after securing funding from the nonprofit DKMS Africa.

Residents at the care home shared their experiences with the reporter. Khosi Rani, a patient from Queenstown, described the home as a place where she does not feel sick, while Andrieka de Clerk from Gariep Dam discussed her early-stage breast cancer diagnosis and subsequent lumpectomy. Manyakallo Mokete, a teacher from Maseru, noted that an ambulance from Lesotho transported her to Bloemfontein for radiation therapy. The report concludes by noting that while decentralization of cancer services is limited by cost and complexity, early detection and improved referral pathways are critical for reducing the burden on patients.