There is nothing as good as seeing someone who has had challenges thrown in their direction, rising from them and making the best of their lives. This is evident as I chat with Kids News’ newest addition, (isiXhosa anchor) Thandile Nkqinkqi Kondilathi (22).
This young beau that hails from the Eastern Cape (Cofimvaba) has had more than her fair share of life’s blows. At the tender age of just a day old, doctors discovered that she had some form of cancer, and later discovered it was muscle cancer and it started with her fingers and as it grew doctors had no choice but to amputate her right arm.
“I went to a special school because of my “condition” but that definitely did not make me different to any other child. I learned to do anything and everything, and I can even drive now not only automatic but MANUAL too
mchana”, she says excited.
“If anyone tells you that there’s something you cannot do, they are talking nonsense” she says laughing. She has a huge passion for radio and news “I always had a problem with my voice and thought it was boyish, but then I heard
Vatiswa Ndara and
Unathi Nkayi, that made me think twice”. She admits that it wasn’t easy getting to where she is today; she had to beg the manager of a radio station to give her a chance.
Her big break was in 2008 when she joined Rainbow fm 90.7. Speak about being at the wrong place at the right time. “Can I tell you how I got the job?” she says laughing out loud. “It was a Saturday morning when I was trying to tune in to this other radio station, there I was struggling to find the frequency, and guess what!! I happened to hear my favorite song being played on Rainbow fm
(and mind you I have never heard of Rainbow fm before) and right after the song ended, they started advertising the post (news reading). I said “God this is not a mistake, you wouldn’t have allowed me to hear
ngale post if it was not mine, matter of fact I’m going there NOW. I got the job” she says smiling.
Having no experience didn’t make it easy but determination proved otherwise. “I always tell myself that I’m not just a pretty face, but I’m a pretty with brains too. I’ve got the looks to die for, the voice, and a great personality, so what could possibly stop me from getting what I want?”
Being on Kids News has opened her eyes to a lot of new things, “I love being on Kids News, it has taught me so much and it still amazes me how fast I have grown”, she says. She tells of how she almost missed the audition, “A friend called me, and at the time we were not on speaking terms, and I thought he was pulling my leg, and I am glad I went”.
“And I got a call that I had gotten the job the same day that I had been told that my cousin sister
(who was very close to my heart) had passed away, so I didn’t know how to feel”
Although she is an inspiration to others, she too has been inspired by those that have had similar situations to her, one is of an eleven year old boy that had been suffering from kidney failure all his life, “as young as he was he inspired me, the hope that he had, he told me how his dad had kept promising him that things would work out. That made me see how important believing in you is”.
It is evident in her confidence that this young woman has come a long way to and has huge dreams which she is determined to stop at nothing in getting what she wants. “I am inspired by people like 3 Talk host
Neoleen Maholwana Sangqu,
Oprah Winfrey. I too want to have my own talk show one day. I hate sugar coating things, I’m a very strict and straight forward person, and I always tell it like it is”.
In the society we live in today, a lot of people are very judgmental especially to physically challenged people. “I have seen how people can treat those that are different towards them, I don’t regard myself as physically disadvantaged, if I want to do something, I go for it, and only God will stop me”
Family is also one of the most in any of us, and this beau also admits how important hers is to her “I love my family and they are the best, my mother especially she has been the rock and thee most supportive person ever”.
Even though blood family is as important but there are people that one treats and regards as family and for Nkqinkqi that person is Isidingo actor
Sisa Hewana who plays bad boy
S’khumbuzo Ace Nzimande “Sisa is a very important person to me, we meet up and talk about almost anything. Yes on TV he is this uncaring soccer star but in reality he is the most supportive and understanding guy. We are best of friends. He is like a brother to me, he is quite a shy person but believe you me, when we are together we are just as crazy”.
Thandile admits that she has had the odd stare from people that she’s come across and she is honest about what happened to her, sometimes even before they ask.
“I love my life and I am happy with the way things have turned out, it has made me appreciate it even more, God has a plan, and everything happens for a reason. My motto is, NEVER GIVE UP TRYING UNTIL YOU BREATHE YOUR LAST BREATH.c
Catch Thandile on Kids News weekdays @06H00…on SABC 1