By Agiza Hlongwane
Radio broadcaster Mandla Khwela may be blind, but that has not stopped him from blazing a trail in his field.
While the reach of Khwezi FM may be limited to the Kranskop community and its rural surrounds, Khwela is making big waves and has made a habit of winning national broadcasting awards.
Last week, he bagged his third Vodacom Journalist of the Year Award in the community media category. This time, though, he shared it with a colleague, Sandile Nzama.
The judges found that the two presenters "chronicle stories about people, progress and problems and look for unique insights or perspectives on life in communities".
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Khwela's own positive attitude belies the numerous obstacles he has had to overcome.
"You can ask me anything, I won't feel degraded," he said, settling down in the studio from which he presents his inspirational show, Makube Khona Ukukhanya (Let there be Light), aired on Sundays and Wednesdays.
Khwela, 63, lost his sight when he was about a year old. His two younger siblings had perfect vision.
"I think I was born with it, although I was told it kicked in when I tried to stand up as a baby. That's when my eyes were inverted forever. I don't have recollections of any vision."
To see Khwela stride independently across the station's narrow corridors, using just his stick as a guide, is to witness an exercise in precision.
His exceptional hearing enables him to distinguish between a group of people at a distance.
He answers his own cellphone and, besides speaking Zulu, is fluent in six other South African languages - English, Xhosa, Tswana, Pedi, Southern Sotho and Afrikaans.
And as a winner, Khwela, has been in his element accepting congratulations from colleagues.
He has been with the station on a voluntary basis since 1995.
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