Diepsloot survivor shares her experience

A Diepsloot resident has shared her experiences of surviving an attempted hijacking and murder as well as being a breast cancer survivor in her new book launching on 29 May.

Refilwe Sedumedi, the founder of Sedumedi Hope Foundation, was a victim of an attempted hijacking in 2019 involving six men. She has been in remission since 2013 and started writing her book Reflections of a True Survivor at the beginning of last year but focused more on it during the hard lockdown.

Sedumedi’s foundation works to educate women from rural areas about breast cancer, and empower and motivate women in general.

The single mother of two said the writing process allowed her to feel a sense of gratitude for life.

“Writing this book granted me the opportunity to be thankful and grateful for the bad things that happened in my life as they opened my eyes to the good things that I was literally not paying attention to before.

“I had to stop feeling sorry for myself because I realised that I was not doing myself or my kids’ future any good by throwing that ‘pity party’,” she said.

Sedumedi gave thanks to her support base consisting of the Diepsloot community, her children, her sister Lesedi and her two nieces for the love they have shown in her lifetime.

“This book is more of life lessons, that there is life after every difficult situation, light at the end of the tunnel and most definitely a sunshine after every storm. That against all odds we must still live life, embrace it and never live with any regrets.

“We must never give up in any situation as giving up is not an option at all. Yes, at times we feel like we are trapped in a cage but always know that it shall most certainly come to pass in due time.”

Sedumedi’s book launch will take place at Southern Sun Hyde Park.