WATCH: On the big screen despite her disability
Mohlakeng woman living with a disability recently landed an acting role in of the country's big soapies.
Despite having suffered a disabling and life-threatening disease, the 34-year-old Lebohang Monyatsi from Mohlakeng landed an acting role in one of South Africa’s biggest soapies, Generations: The Legacy.
In an exclusive interview with the Herald, Lebohang said she was diagnosed with polio at the age of three. Besides having to cope with the disability caused by the disease, her brother, the 27-year-old Thabang Monyatsi went missing. He was last seen in December 2020 in Vanderbijlpark.
Lebohang said recalling how close they’ve been helped her bring all the emotions to the surface during the auditions, and helped her to win over the judges.
She said she has always been interested in acting, but roles for people living with a disability are scarce.
“I have never seen disabled people featured in magazines or on TV, it was like they didn’t exist. This made me want to change how disabled people were viewed,” Lebohang added.
When she was told she got the role, she knew this would open many doors not only for her, but for those in her community as well.
“I thought it was a good opportunity for me to help change stereotypes about people with disabilities, and I would continue being their voice,” Lebohang said.
Although she struggled with self-confidence in the beginning, she said after empowering herself with self-help books, she strove to inspire those who were sidelined and marginalised to defy the odds and achieve their goals.
Lebohang added even though she’s in the limelight, her journey of fighting for disabled people doesn’t end here.
She’s currently busy with one of her projects called Miss Wheelchair South Africa to help improve confidence in young women who still lack it because they are different. She will also partner with other NPOs and agencies to make the voices of the disabled heard.
“We want people to know that we are as capable of achieving our dreams and goals as everyone else; we have skills and talents, we just need to be given a chance to show our capabilities,” Lebohang added.
