PODCAST: THRIVE Part 12: Politician Poppy Mocumi shares her story about disability

An African National Congress (ANC) politician and member of the National Governing Council for the African Peer Review Mechanism (APRM) of South Africa Councillor, Poppy Mocumi was diagnosed with polio as a child. As a result, she limps when she walks.

According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), Poliomyelitis, often known as polio, is a highly infectious viral disease that mainly affects children under the age of five.

The virus spreads mostly by the faecal-oral route or, less frequently, through a common carrier, such as contaminated water or food, and multiplies in the intestine, from where it can infiltrate the nervous system and cause paralysis.

Mocumi shares her journey of disability, personal achievements, aspirations and challenges with SABC Digital News Producer Lebo Tshangela in this bi-weekly feature, Thrive.

She points out, “God doesn’t give you a boy, He doesn’t bring you a girl, doesn’t give you child with a disability or a non-disabled child. No. God gives you a child…So accept that child as a gift from God.”

Below is the full podcast:

Related: PODCAST: THRIVE Part 1: Former Western Cape councillor with paraplegia shares his story

Related: PODCAST | THRIVE Part 2: Rapper and radio presenter with a visual impairment shares his story

Related: PODCAST: THRIVE Part 3: Former JSE employee with paraplegia shares her story

Related: PODCAST: THRIVE Part 4: Single amputee Randi Ndele shares his story

Related: PODCAST: THRIVE Part 5: Disability must not be an obstacle to your life, says visually impaired community leader

Related: PODCAST: THRIVE Part 6: Commission of Gender and Equality Commissioner with albinism shares her story

Related: PODCAST: THRIVE Part 7: Journalist and para-athlete star Palesa Manaleng shares her story

Related: THRIVE Part 8: Mosala Makhetha shares his experience of being a Deaf person in SA

Related: PODCAST: THRIVE Part 9: Northern Cape woman with Erb-Duchenne Palsy shares her story

Related: PODCAST: THRIVE Part 10: Single amputee, Robert Masambo shares his story

Related: PODCAST: THRIVE Part 11: A bank employee with visual impairment shares his story