MISA donates R130 000 to the Prostate Cancer Foundation
MISA, the Motor Industry Staff Association, donated R130 000 to the Prostate Cancer Foundation, a registered non-profit organisation, as part of the Union’s quest to raise awareness amongst South African men about this deadly disease for the fourth consecutive year.
Prostate cancer accounts for an estimated 13% of male cancer related deaths in South Africa, indicating that this most common cancer amongst men is lethal when advanced. South Africa has the highest prostate cancer death rate in the world affecting 1 in 4 Black men and 1 in 8 White men. Early detection is key in the fight against any cancer.
“MISA encourages all men, but specifically also those in the male dominated retail motor industry, to undergo regular cancer screenings because early detection is key. The Union annually supports Prostate Cancer Foundation to raise awareness, educate and support families with the aim to minimise the impact of the disease,” says Martlé Keyter, MISA’s Chief Executive Officer: Operations.
Andrew Oberholzer, Chief Executive Officer of the foundation, says one of its priorities in 2026 will be to launch a prostate cancer registry. “There is currently a lack of data on prostate cancer in South Africa. This makes it very difficult to lobby government for more resources.
“It’s a big project but a very necessary one, so we are working with the major professional societies that diagnose and treat prostate cancer as well as the Department of Health’s National Cancer Registry,” says Oberholzer.
According to Oberholzer most South African men presented with the decease, already have advanced prostate cancer. At this stage the cancer is no longer curable. This problem is exacerbated by the fact that black African men have a 60% higher risk of having prostate cancer and are more than twice as likely to die from the disease than white males.
There are usually no symptoms of prostate cancer in the early stages when it is still curable. Research commissioned by Cancer Alliance shows that prostate cancer will be the most common cancer in South Africa by 2030.
“Thanks to MISA, the Foundation tripled our awareness campaigns the past years. This donation will help the Foundation tremendously to continue with our important task.”
According to Oberholzer most men only get diagnosed when they already have advanced or locally advanced prostate cancer. At this stage the cancer is no longer curable.
“There are usually no symptoms in the early stages when prostate cancer is curable. A lack of knowledge about the benefits of age-appropriate screening and lack of access to screening remains major challenges.
Keyter thanked all the teams participating at Kyalami Country Club despite the rain at times and all the Organisations who sponsored holes.
Issued by Sonja Carstens, Manager of MISA’s Media & Communication Department, on behalf of the Union.
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