Phumzile rises against all odds

Despite having lost her first husband to HIV/Aids at the age of 30, Phumzile Ntshabele has over the year’s become a ray of sunshine to other women who are going through the same.

The 40-year-old Eveleigh resident, who is an author, model, entrepreneur and philanthropist, said her husband was diagnosed with HIV/Aids in 2005 and died in 2011 when their child, who is now 16, was only six months old.

Phumzile said when her husband was about to die, he gave her permission to marry someone else because he wanted her to be happy. In 2011, she married her second husband, who she claims abused her son emotionally, and unfortunately, their relationship didn’t work out.

“My scars have not been a symbol of defeat but beauty and strength. Hence, in 2019 I established the Special People Foundation, which I use to reach out to widows, abused women and people with disabilities.
“I also raise funds for orphanages, such as the St Francis Care Centre and the Hand of Hope Care Centre founded by Ruth Dlamini.”

Phumzile has featured on various radio stations and television shows, such as Aganang in 2018, where she spoke about her journey as a widow.

Not letting her previous relationship struggles define her, in 2019 she opened up her heart to love and has married again.

Upbringing
Phumzile, who grew up in Tsakani, said life wasn’t easy as she was given the responsibility of looking after her little brother when she was just 10 years old.

“A month after my mother gave birth to my brother she had to return to work as a domestic worker and nanny.
“After school, while other children rushed home to eat and play on the streets, we had to fetch our brother from crèche and look after him.
“We also had to take him to the clinic – where most people thought he was my child.
“Experiences like this are what made me the nurturing and loving person I am today.”

While she was still in high school, Phumzile was encouraged to enter the school’s modelling competition, which was the start of her modelling career.

She holds the Miss Mamellong Senior, Miss Tsakani, second princess Miss Kaizer Chiefs and Miss East Rand titles.
Recently, she entered the Mrs Universe SA 2021 competition and has high hopes of bagging the crown.

She has also written four books, titled Three Rings before Forty, She is More Family than Family, A Foreign Widow and My Mother Hates Me. To order any of the books email her at info@phumintshabele.co.za.

Being a woman in South Africa
Phumzile said she believes women are still not taken seriously while being confronted by inequality and injustice.
“Women still face violence, abuse and unequal treatment at home, work and in society in general,” she said.

Her message to women this Women’s Month is: “As women, let us love one another and support each other. Let us help to fix each other’s crowns because we are powerful only if we stand together.”

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