Terry dismisses trolls
Twitter commentators savage Terry
ACTRESS Terry Pheto was attacked on Twitter after she pledged to buy 67 copies of Destiny magazine for distribution to disadvantaged girls.
Pheto, pictured, who appears on the cover of the August issue, wanted to donate the magazines in honour of Mandela Day.
However, an announcement on Destiny’s timeline on Sunday was interpreted differently by commentators on Twitter and it set the social network alight. Commentators attacked her. Others even regarded her good gesture as an insult to poor young girls. Pheto told Sowetan that she wanted to donate the magazines because she knew that they were expensive and many young girls could not afford them.
For someone who has lived in a shack, Pheto wanted the young girls to read her story and be inspired, she said.
“If a girl from Evaton could achieve what I have achieved, they can too. Through my story they will get to understand that growing up in a disadvantaged background does not stop you from dreaming,” she said.
“The plan is to make them realise that hard work is the only thing that will deliver success to you. We need to preach a culture of independency to these girls,” she added.
Pheto herself was inspired by television and stage actress Leleti Khumalo. When she realised that Khumalo also grew up in a similar background, Pheto knew her dream would come true one day.
“When I read Leleti’s story, I knew that I was not the only one who believed that you can make it if you dream big.
“Her story kept me going all these years.”
Asked if the attacks were fair, Pheto said she was baffled that people did not understand her intention.
She said she pledged to donate the magazines because Destiny already has a similar initiative.
Pheto wanted to donate more than 67 magazines to Beverly High School in Vereeniging where she matriculated.
Next tweeted: “67 Destiny magazines for needy young girls?? Such an insult!”
Snowie said: “Bathong, does Terry Pheto have smart friends? What are underprivileged children going to do with Destiny mags?”