Cancer survivor wins Role Model award

Cancer survivor Bongi Mdluli, who received a Tributes Excellence Award, dreams of hosting her own TV show.

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Cape Town - Bongi Mdluli, a young woman who received a Tributes Excellence Award, dreams of hosting her own TV show.

The two Mdluli sisters, Bongi, 22 and Nikiwe, 28, made waves at the 2015 Tributes Excellence Awards which took place in Mangaung recently with their co-ordinated wardrobe, which celebrated their Zulu heritage.

It was Bongi who was the star in the outfits. Bongi laughed, saying she enjoyed getting the attention in the stunning traditional outfits her sister designed. The outfits took five days each to be designed, with even leather incorporated into them.

Bongi received the Tributes Young Role Model award and said afterwards: “I am excited about my award, and I am honoured to receive this award.”

Bongi said she enjoyed the Tributes Excellence Awards tour. “It was a good experience for me. I got to meet different people with different disabilities who go through the same thing,” she shared.

At the young age of 13, when she was in Grade 6, Bongi was diagnosed with oestrogenic cancer. The diagnosis turned out to be severe, and it meant that in order to save her life, doctors had to amputate her left leg.

The strong bond between the sisters, who smile and laugh together, was evident and for Nikiwe, a fashion designer who designed the stunning outfits the sisters wore on the first two days, shared how hard it was for her to see her younger sister go through so much trauma in the beginning.

“It was painful seeing her go through that, but she kept on telling me that she was going to be okay, that she was going to be fine,” she said, keeping her eyes from welling up with tears at the memories.

Nikiwe swelled up with pride as she recalled the moment she watched her sister go up to the stage in the Mangaung City Hall to receive her Tribute statute.

“I am so happy for her, it was nice to see her honoured,” she said.

Nikiwe said that for anyone struggling to cope with their loved ones’ disabilities, “it is important to be proud of them, support them, be there for them and love them”.

Bongi didn’t let having only one leg stop her from achieving her dreams. Soon after the operation she stepped up out of wheelchair and learnt how to walk again with crutches, and went on to finish her schooling.

She founded her own organisation, Confidence Driven Youth Club, which focuses on helping other people through fundraising and storytelling initiatives, camps, and motivational speaking events.

“I just want to make a difference,” she said.

A Casual Day ambassador determined to make an impact, she added that it was important for young people with disabilities “to accept themselves and go out and make a difference”.

Now in her second year of journalism studies at the Creatives Arts College in Durban, Bongi shared her dream: “I want to have a TV show which talks about the challenges people have.”

Casual Day is the National Council for Persons with Physical Disabilities in South Africa’s flagship project, and all funds raised go towards organisations supporting persons with disabilities.

In 2014, Casual Day raised R28 million and the organisation said it was aiming to raise R30 million this year. There are five different types of stickers for this year’s Casual Day, at R10 each. Stickers can be bought from Edgars, CNA, Jet, Boardmans, Legit, Game, Dion Wired, Shoprite and Checkers stores or at ABSA.

ANA