Living the good, better and best life
East London residents gathered at The Venue in Hemingways Casino last Thursday for the latest edition of the Capitec Live Better talks.
During the talks, which are hosted across the country, local celebrities share their stories and struggles in order to motivate and inspire the audience.
Thursday’s guest speakers were actress Brenda Ngxoli, entrepreneur Lonwabo Rani and entertainment personality Somizi Mhlongo.
Ngxoli has appeared in a number of popular and critically acclaimed films and TV series, such as The No1 Ladies’ Detective Agency, Tsha Tsha and Sew the Winter to My Skin.
She discussed her experience growing up as the child of a domestic worker. However, she said she felt no shame in her upbringing.
“I am the proud product of the migrant labour system. I am the proud product of a single-parent domestic worker,” she said.
Ngxoli stressed the importance of people accepting their past and find it within themselves to appreciate who they really were.
“If you are not honest with yourself, then you cannot love yourself and if you cannot love yourself, how is anyone supposed to love you?”
IT company Silulo Uluthu Technologies director Rani was up next and shared the many struggles he faced in establishing the business.
For Rani, perseverance was an important trait that allowed him to push through the tough times to eventually make Silulo Uluthu a success.
The last speaker was Mhlongo, well known for his appearance on national radio and as a judge on Idols SA.
Mhlongo’s key message for the audience was that life should not be spent envying others for what they had. “After all,” he said, “I do not want to be Beyonce.
“I don’t want to live a life where I just blink and it’s right in front of me,” he told the crowd.
“There are some things, whether you like it or not, that money cannot buy.”