By Thomo Nkgadima
news@alexreporter.co.za
A man born without arms, Letlhogonolo Mafela (28) from Matshepe village near Mahikeng, North West resisted letting his disability stop him realizing his dream.
Now he uses his feet to eat and his mouth to write. And self acceptance has helped him a lot throughout his life to defy the odds. He turned his impairment into his ability to act.
“It is through my dedication and persistence that assisted me to achieve and obtained my Bcom degree in Economics. I’m currently studying for my Honors with the North-west University,” he says.
He says that living with a disability has never been a disability in the literal sense of the word.
He has been like this all his life, accepted it and learned to function as any physically capable person.
Not only does he excel academically, but he is also a DJ for Go Infinite Holding, a PR company.
He also serves as a guest DJ at SABC’s Motsweding FM. He was nominated for the Live Your Dream Awards as Best DJ last year for his hard work and positive attitude.
His special ability to nurture his childhood dream of becoming a musician has attracted an award-winning musician, the late HHP, to do a song with him.
“One of the difficult situations in my life was to accept myself. Once I accepted myself, I could move forward and the sky is the limit.
“At the university they granted me accommodation and bursary to further my studies. I was afforded the same time like other students during exam.”
Mafela said that he began to realize that he was different from other kids at an early age.
“I always tell others that I became a man at an early age. I had to make a decision of self acceptance as a young boy. It is not something a young mind would really accommodate. So I told myself that I was like that and there is no changing it,” said Mafela.
He says that he chose to study economics because he wanted to do something that would allow him to better understand the business world.
“It is either I was going to live for the rest of my life being miserable because of my condition or I was going to make the most out of it,”he remembered.
No one taught him to use his mouth to write, but it came naturally since he was left with no option to use.
He says he’s not handicapped, but different and does things differently.
At the University, he continues to earn distinctions and won a special rector scholarship for his academic excellence.
Edited by Jonk wa Mashamba
jonk@alexreporter.co.za
