Feisty Bongi, an ambassador for Casual Day

DURBAN journalism student Bongi Pearl Mdluli has been appointed as a Casual Day ambassador.

The brave cancer survivor who agreed to have her left leg amputated to save her life is making waves in the media and on the ground, with her Confidence Driven Youth Club which uses storytelling, camps, speaking opportunities and events to raise funds. She has grown her brand in a very short time, amassing 17 000 fans on her Facebook page.

Bongi joined the campaign to inspire communities to participate in Casual Day 2015, which takes place on Friday 4 September. Casual Day project leader Vanessa du Plessis said: “We are privileged to be working this passionate woman who cares so deeply for the people around her. She will be inspiring everyone to dress in the Casual Day theme, Spring into Action. She was chosen because she has not let her disability stop her from making a difference in the world.”

Casual Day is South Africa’s most successful fundraising project for persons with disabilities – and the amount raised for last year has climbed to R28 million. Sponsored by The Edcon Group, Casual Day is the flagship project of the National Council for Persons with Physical Disabilities in South Africa (NCPPDSA).

Originally from Bergville in KZN, Bongi grew up in Vereeniging where she finished her matric at General Smuts High School in 2012. But she was only 13 when tragedy struck. She was in Grade 6 at Selborne Primary when her leg started to swell. She was not taken to a doctor for a few months and when she finally saw a doctor, she was diagnosed with osteogenic cancer.

The doctors advised her parents that the only thing that would save her was an amputation, but they refused to sign the consent forms. Because she was in so much pain, Bongi took matters into her own hands, requesting the surgery herself. She courageously went ahead with the procedure despite a lack of consensus from her extended family.

After a few days in a wheelchair, she was up and learning to walk on crutches.

“During my months of unpleasant chemotherapy, I learnt to accept the situation and successfully finished primary school during this time,” she said.

But then she had to face high school, where she was bullied and became the butt of jokes and taunts.

Slowly she learnt to deal with the negative attitudes. “I stopped allowing others to define me and for my matric dance I chose an outfit that surprised everyone. I wore a fish-tale dress copied from the famous Bonang Matheba and eight inch stiletto heels. As I danced the night away, I thought about my journey.”

Then, she went against the grain again, moving to Durban. “I wanted to face challenges alone. I told my parents I wanted to face the world on my own – where I will meet people who make fun of me. And people who will meet the person I am now.”

Becoming a regular on radio and TV, she found that people wanted to learn from her.

“I realised how many people are inspired by my story. I realised a lot of people lack self love because they let others control their lives,” she said.

Her social media accounts were inundated with messages from people thanking her for changing their lives.

She started a project called Confidence Driven where she shares stories, has camps, does public speaking, raises funds for the needy and visits schools and hospitals starting from the rural areas to urban areas. She is also focusing on youth who feel that committing suicide is easier than dealing with bullying, ridicule and peer pressure.

To find out where you can buy your Casual Day stickets go to www.casualday.co.za