She is disabled and cannot swim, but that hasn’t stopped a Khayelitsha mom from surfing to the top of her game.
Noluthando Makalima, 32, who has cerebral palsy has been surfing since 2014 and was recently selected to represent South Africa again at an international event.
Last year, she went to California in the United States where she bagged a silver medal.
“This year I’ve been selected again to go back to America to the World Parasurfing Championships,” she says proudly.
“But I don’t have funds to go there, I need support.
“When I went there last year people donated towards the trip, I almost didn’t make it but I eventually did.”
The mother of one says she draws her inspiration from her six-year-old daughter.
“She keeps me going, she is the reason I want to be successful.
“I never forget to mention her in everything I do,” she says.
Noluthando tells the Daily Voice the first time she went to Blouberg Beach she was so scared of the water.
“There is a group called Siyaphakama that is for the disabled people.
“They said they want to teach us how to surf, but I didn’t understand because of my condition.”
“When I left, I said I am never going back to surf, and they said if anyone is interested in coming back, they are welcome.
“They said it was for therapy, so I went back.
“When I kept falling off the board, I was encouraged to get back on it and one interesting thing is that I can’t swim.
“I am still scared of the water but I just have the courage to get on the board and hold on to it.”
She says she never thought she would get this far with parasurfing.
“To be chosen twice to compete in California is a massive thing for me.
“But I need R45 000 in order to be overseas on 2 December.”
To donate, go to https://www.backabuddy.co.za/noluthando-makalima.
nomzamo.yuku@inl.co.za