Women gather to share survival stories

The founder of Sedumedi Hope Foundation Refilwe Sedumedi held an event celebrating women who’ve survived adversities.

Sedumedi is a cancer survivor and was recently a victim of a hijacking in Diepsloot. This incident led to the idea to host an event titled: I Survived.

“It was just a vision after my threatening life journey of breast cancer in 2013, and little did I know that on 27 July on my way from the studio, I went through a horror movie, an attempted hijacking by six guys and attempted murder as they shot me in my neck but yet again I survived. Indeed God works in His mysterious ways,” she said.

The event took place at the Diepsloot youth centre and women who’ve been through various traumas were in attendance to speak about how they overcame them.

In attendance were Marietjie Bothma, a TV personality, motivational speaker and activist against women abuse. Also in attendance was the director of Bontlebame non-profit organisation, Kea Modise Moloto who spoke of her experience in prison after being arrested for culpable homicide in an accident in 2016.

Nomvula Riba of Breast Cancer Gladiator shared her threatening cancer journey, Nthabiseng Mosuoe spoke of her trauma as a rape victim, and liver cancer survivor Keleadi Tloubatla also attended.

By the end of the day, everyone’s shoulders were lighter and all the women were feeling united.

“During the course of the event we cried, we laughed, we learned, we got motivated and we got transformed,” said Sedumedi.

“I believe it brought back hope in people’s lives in a very unique way. I am glad that everyone gave love to a young lady, Nwabisa Ndloloti who was recently diagnosed with breast cancer and going through chemotherapy treatment.”

Sedumedi concluded, “It was overwhelming to see how people were willing to help in terms of donating gifts and money to the young lady.”

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