Women’s Month: Nelisiwe defies her limitations

ON August 9 in 1956, 20 000 women marched to the Union Buildings in Pretoria to protest against apartheid legislation. In recognition of that historical event, Women’s Day, on August 9, is celebrated nationally and serves as a day to recognise women’s achievements, discuss continuing and emerging women’s empowerment movements and gender-equality issues. This year’s commemoration of Women’s Month marks the 66th anniversary of the women’s march to the Union Buildings. To honour those women and the women who represent our nation, today, Berea Mail will be honing in on extraordinary women from our own community to highlight their lives and the ways they challenge the odds and remain resilient in the face of hardship.

THIS week, we spoke with Nelisiwe Sibiya, a 26-year-old from Durban Central, who strives to defy the limitations placed upon South African women every day.

Sibiya is wheelchair-bound, and despite this, she is an active dancer, surfer and table-tennis player and recently took her love for dance to stage by taking part in the Durban Dance Festival which was held at the Playhouse Theatre on July 22 and July 23.

Sibiya says she has been dancing since 2017 and enjoys being able to express emotions without words through the art of dance, and getting the opportunity to meet and work with people from various backgrounds.

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This was Sibiya’s second time taking part in the festival, but this year, she was more involved in the behind-the-scenes work put into organising it. “This was my second time performing at the Durban Dance Festival, but it was my first time seeing what happens behind the scenes, and it turned out to be a beautiful festival.

“It was hard work, but the rush and joy of seeing different people coming to watch and support, and getting an inside look into how the festival is put together and most importantly, the love, made it all worth it!”

The young dancer says the preparation process took a month, but she found the entire experience exciting and extremely fulfilling.

Outside of dance, Sibiya is currently completing her degree in criminology at UNISA and says she lets nothing hold her back.

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“I want to eventually make a career out of dancing, even after I am qualified, and I am also a small business owner.

“I believe young women can do it all and should never doubt themselves or put themselves down because we are the role models for the next generation of South African women.

“I believe we should make them proud and leave a better nation for them,” she concluded.

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