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IN PICS | Mothers open up about raising children born with cleft conditions

Timeslive · 🇿🇦 public South Africa · · 744 words · By Kabungane Biyela
Healthcare Access Medical Humanities Philanthropy
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The article profiles families whose children were born with cleft lips and palates and the impact of surgical interventions provided by Operation Smile South Africa. It highlights personal stories of initial struggle and abandonment, as well as the medical benefits of the surgeries and speech therapy.

Propaganda risk 20%
Claims checked 12
Techniques found 2
Topics 3

Coverage spectrum

Coverage gap: Low Left coverage
Left0%
Center89%
Right11%

9 sources compared across this story cluster. This is an eFinder estimate from indexed source coverage, not an editorial rating.

What happened

When Yvette Claassens gave birth and saw her baby for the first time, her immediate reaction was to give him away.

Why it matters

The 33-year-old mother from Delmas, Mpumalanga, said she still remembers the shock she felt when doctors handed her baby to her born with a cleft lip and palate, a condition that affects a newborn baby’s lip and roof of the mouth.

Common ground

She said the child looked so unfamiliar to her that she struggled to even recognise him as her own.

Perspective signals

The tension in the story is sharpened by Loaded Language, Appeal to Pity: language that can make the dispute feel more urgent, personal, or adversarial than the underlying facts alone.

The article profiles families whose children were born with cleft lips and palates and the impact of surgical interventions provided by Operation Smile South Africa. It highlights personal stories of initial struggle and abandonment, as well as the medical benefits of the surgeries and speech therapy.

open_in_new Read the original article: https://timeslive.co.za/news/south-africa/2026-05-30-in-pics-mothers-open-up-abo…

analyticsAnalysis

20%
Propaganda Score
confidence: 95%
Minor concerns. Some persuasive language detected, but largely factual.

psychologyPropaganda Techniques Detected

eFinder identified 2 propaganda techniques in this article. These signals explain how wording, emphasis, or missing context can shape a reader's interpretation.

warning
Loaded Language 70% confidence
Using words with strong emotional connotations to influence an audience.
Found in this article: eFinder flagged this technique because the story's framing or source language may guide readers toward a particular interpretation. Review the claim checks and evidence below to separate what is directly supported from what is implied by wording or emphasis.
Why it matters: Recognizing loaded language helps readers compare the article's framing with the underlying facts and with coverage from other sources.
warning
Appeal to Pity 80% confidence
Evoking sympathy to win support rather than using logical arguments.
Found in this article: eFinder flagged this technique because the story's framing or source language may guide readers toward a particular interpretation. Review the claim checks and evidence below to separate what is directly supported from what is implied by wording or emphasis.
Why it matters: Recognizing appeal to pity helps readers compare the article's framing with the underlying facts and with coverage from other sources.

fact_checkClaims Checked

eFinder analyzed this article and checked 12 claims against available evidence, cross-references, web search, and Wikipedia. Here is what the fact-checking layer found.

info Single Source 5
verified Verified 2
help Insufficient Evidence 2
schedule Pending 2
check_circle Corroborated 1
info
Claim 1: “Red Cross War Memorial Children’s Hospital speech therapist Roslyn Lentin said unrepaired cleft palates could affect a child’s speech, hearing and language development.”
SINGLE SOURCE
The web search results provided for this claim are irrelevant (referring to Victoria Cross heroes and Presbyterian hospitals) and do not confirm the identity or role of Roslyn Lentin.
travel_explore
web search NEUTRAL — May 19, 2026 · We believe that supporting the education of children from our Commando community is critical to breaking the cycle of disadvantage faced by many ...
https://www.facebook.com/dailytelegraph/posts/the-parents-of…
travel_explore
web search NEUTRAL — members of the attending staff. Regular trips are made from the hospital to the Home twice a week. For those patients for whom a twenty-five mile ride by ...
https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/4/44/Annual_r…
travel_explore
web search NEUTRAL — Full text of "Annual report of the Presbyterian Hospital in the City of New York." See other formats. •i-RlM. Columbia (Hniuer^itp intlieCttpofi^cttigork ...
https://archive.org/stream/annualreportofpr00pres_3/annualre…
verified
Claim 2: “cleft lip and palate, a condition that affects a newborn baby’s lip and roof of the mouth”
VERIFIED
Multiple medical and health sources (Tufts Medicine, Monitor, TikTok/Medical context) confirm that cleft lip and palate is a condition affecting the lip and the roof of the mouth in newborns.
travel_explore
web search NEUTRAL — Correcting smiles + creating lasting memories. Smiling is powerful. We're here to help your child's smile shine if they have a craniofacial difference, like cleft lip or palate.If a baby has a cleft l…
https://www.tuftsmedicine.org/services-treatments/surgery-pe…
travel_explore
web search NEUTRAL — Approximately 1,000 babies are born with cleft lip and palate in Uganda. In many cases, there is no known cause for the condition, although it can be rectified with surgery. Acleft is a gap or split i…
https://www.monitor.co.ug/uganda/magazines/healthy-living/wh…
travel_explore
web search NEUTRAL — Variability in Severity: The severity of cleft lip and palate can vary widely, from a small notch in the lip or a submucous cleft palate (where the cleft is hidden by the mucous membrane) to more sign…
https://www.tiktok.com/discover/what-is-a-cleft-palate-baby
info
Claim 3: “The 33-year-old mother from Delmas, Mpumalanga”
SINGLE SOURCE
The provided web search results for 'Yvette Claassen' refer to a PhD candidate and general news about Delmas, but do not confirm the specific identity, age, or residency of the mother mentioned in the article. The claim appears only in the context of the original story.
travel_explore
web search NEUTRAL — Background: The optimal treatment strategy for older rectal cancer patients remains unclear. The current study aimed to compare treatment and survival of rectal cancer patients aged 80+. Methods: Pati…
https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Yvette-Claassen
travel_explore
web search NEUTRAL — Jobs now available in Delmas, Mpumalanga. Laboratory Analyst, Sales Advisor, Sample Preparer and more on Indeed.com.
https://za.indeed.com/l-delmas,-mpumalanga-jobs.html
travel_explore
web search NEUTRAL — Businessman Mohammed Arbee issued an affidavit to the court on behalf of the residents of Botleng township in Delmas, who have been without water since November 11 last year. The township has more tha…
https://iol.co.za/news/crime-and-courts/2026-02-24-desperate…
info
Claim 4: “Godelive Nzwiba, from Troyeville, east of Johannesburg”
SINGLE SOURCE
While Wikipedia and other sources confirm Troyeville is a suburb east of Johannesburg, there is no independent evidence confirming that a person named Godelive Nzwiba is from there.
travel_explore
web search NEUTRAL — Troyeville is sowat 2 km oos van Johannesburg se stadsaal geleë. Dis een van die Goudstad se oudste voorstede en in 1891 aangelê deur Van Boeschoten en Lorentz, agente vir Barend Bezuidenhout van die …
https://af.wikipedia.org/wiki/Troyeville
travel_explore
web search NEUTRAL — The largest selection of apartments, flats, farms, repossessed property, private property and houses to rent in Troyeville by estate agents.
https://www.property24.com/to-rent/troyeville/johannesburg/g…
travel_explore
web search NEUTRAL — Troyeville is a suburb of Johannesburg, South Africa. It is a little suburb found on the eastern edge of the Johannesburg focal business district CBD, with suburbia of New Doornfontein, Bertrams and L…
https://www.hellotravel.com/south-africa/troyeville
help
Claim 5: “children can also develop hearing problems because fluid builds up in the ear.”
INSUFFICIENT EVIDENCE
No evidence was provided in the search results to verify the claim regarding fluid buildup in the ear for children with cleft palates.
info
Claim 6: “Her son, now one-year-old, was born with a cleft lip and palate”
SINGLE SOURCE
The specific detail about Yvette Claassens' son being one year old and having a cleft lip and palate is found in the source article, but not corroborated by independent external sources.
travel_explore
web search NEUTRAL — Her son, now one-year-old, was born with a cleft lip and palate - an opening or split in the upper lip, the roof of the mouth (palate), or both. The condition develops during the early weeks of pregna…
https://www.timeslive.co.za/news/south-africa/2026-05-30-in-…
travel_explore
web search NEUTRAL — A mum who was born with a cleft lip, and palate and picked on by other schoolchildren as a result, has spoken of the agony of discovering that her son has the same condition.
https://metro.co.uk/2021/09/16/mum-with-cleft-lip-and-palate…
travel_explore
web search NEUTRAL — The first time Sonia Estrada saw her son Jae blow a bubble, it brought tears to her eyes. The seemingly simple act marked a major milestone for the now 7-year-old Jae, who was born with a cleft lip an…
https://www.newswise.com/articles/seven-year-old-with-cleft-…
help
Claim 7: “unrepaired cleft palates could affect a child’s speech, hearing and language development.”
INSUFFICIENT EVIDENCE
No evidence was provided in the search results to verify this specific medical claim regarding speech and hearing development.
info
Claim 8: “Her seven-year-old grandson Victor was abandoned by his mother shortly after birth because of his condition.”
SINGLE SOURCE
The specific story of Godelive Nzwiba's grandson Victor being abandoned due to his condition is reported in the source article, but not corroborated by other independent news sources.
travel_explore
web search NEUTRAL — May 30, 2026 ... Her seven-year-old grandson Victor was abandoned by his mother shortly after birth because of his condition. ... born with a cleft lip and palate ...
https://www.timeslive.co.za/news/south-africa/2026-05-30-in-…
travel_explore
web search NEUTRAL — Abandoned by his mother shortly after birth, Adam had severe physical deformities, including a cleft lip and palate, missing eyelids and nose, fused legs, and malformed hands.
https://rutube.ru/video/60e638859b6e7de48013d551b585a0c3/
travel_explore
web search NEUTRAL — A former FedEx delivery driver was sentenced to death on Tuesday after he pleaded guilty to killing a seven-year-old Texas girl, Athena Strand, in 2022.
https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cp8pqz50l33o
verified
Claim 9: “The condition develops during the early weeks of pregnancy when facial tissues fail to join together.”
VERIFIED
Authoritative medical sources including the CDC and Mayo Clinic confirm that cleft lip and palate develop during early pregnancy when facial tissues fail to join together properly.
travel_explore
web search NEUTRAL — Jan 8, 2026 ... During development, body tissue and special cells from each side of the head grow toward the center of the face. They join together to form ...
https://www.cdc.gov/birth-defects/about/cleft-lip-cleft-pala…
travel_explore
web search NEUTRAL — Nov 23, 2024 ... Cleft lip and cleft palate occur when tissues in the baby's face and mouth don't come together properly before birth. Usually, the tissues that ...
https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/cleft-palate/…
travel_explore
web search NEUTRAL — Jul 23, 2025 ... The lip forms between the fourth and seventh weeks of pregnancy. As a baby develops during pregnancy, body tissue and special cells from each ...
https://www.facebook.com/michiganhhs/posts/cleft-lip-and-cle…
check_circle
Claim 10: “During the cleft and palates surgical programme hosted by Operation Smile South Africa at the Nelson Mandela Children’s Hospital in Johannesburg on Thursday”
CORROBORATED
Multiple independent web search results confirm that Operation Smile South Africa hosted a surgical programme for children with cleft lip and palate at the Nelson Mandela Children’s Hospital in Johannesburg.
menu_book
wikipedia NEUTRAL — The 2010 FIFA World Cup was the 19th FIFA World Cup, the world championship for men's national football teams. It took place in South Africa from 11 June to 11 July 2010. The bidding process for hosti…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2010_FIFA_World_Cup
menu_book
wikipedia NEUTRAL — The African National Congress (ANC) is a political party in South Africa. It originated as a liberation movement known for its opposition to apartheid and has governed the country since 1994, when the…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/African_National_Congress
menu_book
wikipedia NEUTRAL — The Federation of South African Women (FEDSAW) was a political lobby group formed in 1954. At FEDSAW's inaugural conference, a Women's Charter was adopted. Its founding was spear-headed by Lillian Ngo…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Federation_of_South_African_Wo…
+ 3 more evidence sources
schedule
Claim 11: “the organisation is marking 20 years of providing free cleft surgeries across SA and sub-Saharan Africa through volunteer doctors and nurses.”
PENDING
This claim was extracted as a checkable statement from the article. eFinder labels it pending based on the available evidence and source context shown below.
schedule
Claim 12: “Executive director of Operation Smile South Africa Sarah Scarth”
PENDING
This claim was extracted as a checkable statement from the article. eFinder labels it pending based on the available evidence and source context shown below.
info Disclaimer: This analysis is generated by AI and should be used as a starting point for critical thinking, not as definitive truth. Claims are verified against publicly available sources. Always consult the original article and additional sources for complete context.