Rudzani 4th in World Championship

A 23-year-old student at the Tshilwavhusiku Razwimisani Special School, Rudzani Netshidzivhani, recently ended fourth in the Black Ball International World Championships held in Ireland.

Rudzani formed part of the South African Sports Association for the Intellectualy Impaired (SASAII) team. She left for Ireland on 10 October and returned to South Africa on 18 October. She took part in the snooker competition.

“I am very happy and honoured as I represented my school, province and country,” she said. “Opportunities like this one do not come by chance. One needs to work hard to enjoy them. Even though I was expecting to take position one, I am really happy for the fourth position," she said.

The school’s principal, Ms Roseline Ramutshila, said that the school was honoured to have someone of Rudzani’s calibre. “This was an opportunity she created for the school to shine brightly,” she said. “Thanks to her coaches and staff for all their contributions. We encouraged her to pull up her socks and make us proud, and that’s exactly what she did. She is the pride of our country. Well done, Rudzi!”

Rudzani’s brother, Mashudu Netshidzivhani, was very proud of her achievement. “I am so happy for my sister,” he said. “She is the pride of our family. There is a wrong thinking among some people that those who attend special schools are less gifted and as such cannot work hard and establish themselves in society. But my sister is a good example that people who attend special schools are also gifted and abled just like any other person out there.”

Date:27 October 2016

By: Tshifhiwa Mukwevho

Tshifhiwa Given Mukwevho was born in 1984 in Madombidzha village, not far from Louis Trichardt in the Limpopo Province. After submitting articles for roughly a year for Limpopo Mirror's youth supplement, Makoya, he started writing for the main newspaper. He is a prolific writer who published his first book, titled A Traumatic Revenge in 2011. It focusses on life on the street and how to survive amidst poverty. His second book titled The Violent Gestures of Life was published in 2014.

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