Thato Mphuthi
Challenging disability stigma through education

Thato Mphuthi at home in Soweto, Gauteng © Thom Pierce 2023
So much Actionism is driven by personal experience and the need to make sure that nobody else suffers in the same way. No more so than for Thato Mphuthi, a powerful voice for the rights of people with disabilities.
At 8 years old Thato was diagnosed with TB of the right hip. She had to rely on crutches to get around and took a long time to adjust to her new way of moving. Not only was she in pain and drastically restricted in her movement, but she also became alienated from her friends and fearful of being picked on.
For a year her classroom was on the first floor and, only being able to cope with navigating the stairs once a day, she had to stay upstairs for the whole day, unable to join in at break time or enjoy lunch with her friends.
In high school, the bullying got worse and she became more introverted. She wrote a poem called “Imizwayami” (My Feelings) for an assignment and performed it in front of her class. It was a raw expression of her experiences as a person with a disability. The performance prompted a change in attitude from many of her fellow students and lit a fire in Thato, proving that she had the ability to change people’s perceptions of her.
After leaving school Thato slowly started to engage with activists. She was introduced to the One In Nine Campaign, working with survivors of GBV and the Young Urban Woman Movement and Activate.
I am so grateful for the experience that came with having this condition because it changed my outlook on life and opened me up to different things ... I often say to my friends that this feels like a hug to my 8-year-old self who could not speak for themselves at the time. The work that I am doing, as much as I am passionate about it, is also my way of healing.
In 2020 Thato started her own NPO, Enabled Enlightenment, as a way to educate children about issues relating to disability, encouraging them to live as good examples to others in their communities. Once she started to run workshops in schools, the program was broadened to include issues of consent, body autonomy, GBV, and sexual and reproductive health.
Thato is wearing the Disability Pride T-Shirt designed by tebo x emeka which can be bought through the link in our online store.
Share this story:
CREATED FOR positive activism © 2025