South Africans increasingly need stories of courage, strength, and progress – a positive, optimistic narrative to combat bad news and negative thinking. We have the power to reframe our story, address our fears and change our pessimistic thoughts. We can choose to focus on stories that unveil success after daring to dream, and of chasing that dream. 

August is Women’s Month, so perhaps it is opportune to focus on women’s stories – and what better than the recent women’s sport stories? Stories that show bravery, teamwork, and unity, because that is the stuff that dreams are made of.

Our Proteas showed skill and strength at the recent Netball World Cup in Cape Town by ending in the seventh position overall, while Banyana Banyana displayed tenacity and grit by ending in the last 16 in the 2023 FIFA World Cup in Australia. Earlier this year our women’s cricket team impressed by reaching the T20 ICC World Cup. 

Sport has the unique ability to transcend barriers: social barriers, linguistic barriers, cultural barriers and to some extent, even gender barriers. But what about barriers because of disability? Sport might just be the best possible platform for implementing inclusion strategies.

StatsSA places South Africa’s national disability prevalence rate at 7.5%. Women with disability face double discrimination and stigma, because of their gender and because of their disability. This stigma often stems from myths and false beliefs such as that these women are dependent, incapable, inactive and a burden. These beliefs result in discrimination and therefore basic human rights such as education, employment and health remain an unachievable dream for many. 

Sport can transform negative attitudes and reduce disability stigma by showcasing abilities and skills, and not the disability. However, the United Nations reports that 93% of women with disabilities are not involved in sport. The health risks associated with long-term inactivity could have irreversible effects on these women’s quality of life. Creating opportunities for women with disabilities to participate in sport can help achieve the global goals of gender equality by empowering girls and women with disabilities to acquire skills. 

Sport acts as an incubator for developing vital social and communication skills while also reducing dependency by supporting them to become physically and mentally stronger. Sport also fosters teamwork, cooperation and respect for others and can help to reduce gender stereotypes and negative perceptions associated with women with disabilities. Ultimately, sport can provide leadership experience that may result in increased employment opportunities and lower levels of poverty. 

At the recent Special Olympic Summer Games in Berlin the South African women with intellectual disability brought back five gold medals, four silvers and four bronzes – no small achievement! Banele Makhubo impressed on the golf course and was rewarded with the golf gold medal. In the swimming events, the South African women shone like diamonds! Bronwyn Ramathula won gold in the 100m backstroke and bronze in 100m breaststroke, Cornelia Fowler won a gold in the open water event and a silver in the 800m freestyle, while Jennifer Higgins won a gold in the 100m freestyle and a bronze in the 100m butterfly. 

Table tennis also garnered several medals for the South African Special Olympics (SOSA) team with Innocentia Msikinkya bringing home a gold in the doubles and a silver in the women’s singles. Puleng Gabamoele won a bronze in the women’s singles and silver in the female doubles, while Sinothando Adonis also made her mark by winning a bronze in the doubles event. In ten-pin bowling, Nathalie Costs showed her skill by winning the silver medal.  

Now if this is not a story of courage, strength and progress, what is? In the years to come, may we continue to raise the profile of female role models such as these sports women with and without disability, and shine a light on their achievements to inspire the next generation.

Professor Juan Bornman is the Director of the Centre for Augmentative and Alternative Communication at the University of Pretoria. She is also past President of the International Society for Augmentative and Alternative Communication (2021-2022).

This article first appeared in the Mail & Guardian on 11 August 2023.