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Make an impact today

Direct Payment / EFT:

  • Account Bank: First National Bank

  • Account Name: Sound of Hope NPC

  • Account Number: 63210681359

  • Account: Cheque Account

  • Branch Code: 210835

Frequently asked questions

For Donors

  • Description text Yes - if you are a South African taxpayer. Our organisation has Section 18A approval from SARS. For any donation of any amount, we will issue you a Section 18A tax receipt. You can claim the donation as a deduction on your annual tax return, up to 10% of your taxable income.

    Need a receipt? Email us after donating with your name, ID number, and proof of payment. We will send your Section 18A receipt within 7 days.oes here

  • Every rand you give goes directly to:

    · Cochlear implant devices

    · Surgical consumables

    · Hospital and theatre fees

    · Anaesthetist fees

    · Pre- and post-operative audiology

    · Patient therapy (12 months)

    Who pays for your website, emails, and marketing? Volunteers and pro bono services. If that ever changes, we will disclose it publicly and update donors in writing with 30 days.

  • Description Yes. If you donate R350,000 or more (full implant), you may choose to sponsor a specific patient from our waiting list. We will introduce you to the patient (or their family) anonymously, with their consent, and invite you to the "switch-on" ceremony if you wish.

    For smaller donations, your gift is pooled with others to fund complete implants. You will still receive anonymised updates about the patients your pooled donation helped.text goes here

  • Any surplus funds will be used to fund the next patient on our waiting list. We will never hold surplus funds without allocating them to a specific patient. If for any reason we cannot use your donation (extremely unlikely), we will refund it in full upon your request.

  • We understand the concern. Here is how you can verify:

    · Professor Mashudu Tshifularo is a public figure. You can Google him, visit the University of Pretoria's ENT department website, or contact Steve Biko Academic Hospital directly.

    · Our Section 18A approval can be verified with SARS (ask us for our PBO number).

    · We provide named, verifiable patient stories (anonymised for privacy, but available for audit by major donors).

    · We encourage you to visit Steve Biko Academic Hospital and meet Prof. Tshifularo's team (by appointment).

    Still unsure? Start with a small donation — R1000 — R5000 and see how we communicate with you. Then decide if you trust us with more.

  • Yes. We accept donations via:

    · International bank transfer (email us for SWIFT details)

    · PayPal / Stripe (coming soon — check website)

    · Cryptocurrency (BTC, ETH — contact us)

    Please note: Section 18A tax receipts are only valid for South African taxpayers. International donors will receive a thank-you letter but not a tax deduction in their home country (unless their local laws recognise foreign PBOs).

  • Absolutely. We welcome corporate partnerships. Sponsors of 5+ implants (R1.75 million) receive:

    · Company logo on our website and materials

    · Naming rights to a "sponsored surgery day"

    · Media recognition (with your consent)

    · Impact report with anonymised patient outcomes

    · Section 18A tax receipts for each donation

    Contact us for a corporate sponsorship pack.

  • Yes, with prior approval. If you have a new, unused cochlear implant device, audiology equipment, or surgical supplies, please email us to discuss. We will need to verify compatibility with Prof. Tshifularo's preferred manufacturers before accepting.

For Patients & Families

  • You need a medical assessment. The first step is to visit an ENT (ear, nose, and throat) specialist or an audiologist at a public hospital. They will perform:

    · Hearing tests (audiometry)

    · Imaging scans (CT or MRI of the inner ear)

    · A trial with powerful hearing aids (to see if they help)

    If hearing aids do not help, and your inner ear is structurally suitable, you may be a candidate.

    We cannot select patients directly - Prof. Tshifularo's clinical team makes all decisions based on medical criteria, not fundraising pressure.

  • We do not take direct applications. Instead, we work with Prof. Tshifularo's existing waiting list at Steve Biko Academic Hospital.

    If you are already a patient there (or at another public hospital), ask your ENT or audiologist to refer you to Prof. Tshifularo's team. They will add you to the waiting list. When we raise funds for an implant, his team selects the most urgent patient from that list.

    Do not send us your medical records directly - we are fundraisers, not clinicians. We cannot assess your eligibility.

  • Currently, 3–5 years for public patients who cannot afford private implants. Prof. Tshifularo's team sees hundreds of eligible patients. We hope to shorten that list with donor funding.

  • Yes. Cochlear implant surgery has a complication rate of less than 1% in expert hands. Prof. Tshifularo has performed hundreds of successful implants. Risks are similar to any ear surgery: infection, bleeding, facial nerve irritation (temporary), or taste disturbance. Serious complications are extremely rare.

  • Not immediately - but soon. The "switch-on" happens 2–4 weeks after surgery. At that moment, most patients hear sound for the first time. However, the brain needs time to learn to interpret the new signals.

    · Children: Speech development typically begins within 3–6 months.

    · Adults who lost hearing later in life: May understand conversation within days or weeks.

    · Adults born deaf: Results vary but are often life-changing.

    Patience and therapy are essential. We fund 12 months of post-op therapy for exactly this reason.

  • Manufacturer warranties cover device failure (rare — less then 1% over 10 years). Surgery to replace a failed implant is covered by the public hospital if the original surgery was performed there. We cannot guarantee funding for replacement surgery, but we will advocate for you.

  • Yes, but one at a time. Bilateral implants provide better sound localisation and hearing in noise. However, they are twice the cost. Our campaign currently focuses on unilateral (one ear) implants because we can help twice as many patients. If a donor specifically sponsors bilateral implants, we will happily do so.

  • We appreciate your spirit, but please let us handle fundraising. Your role is to focus on your health, therapy, and family. However, if you wish to share your story publicly (anonymously or with your name), we welcome that. Contact us to discuss.

General Questions

  • No. We are an independent fundraising campaign authorised by Prof. Tshifularo. We work within the public hospital system but receive no government funding. This allows us to move faster than bureaucratic processes.

  • Yes! Get in touch with us for opportunities:

    · Social media sharing

    · Church and community presentations

    · Corporate outreach

    · Event fundraising

    · Administrative support (if you are in Pretoria)

  • Please email us at info@soundofhope.co.za or call (012) 542 6189. We will respond personally and may add your question to this FAQ.