When Tshepo Rasebeka was only nine months old, he underwent a bilateral amputation through the knee, similar to that of his hero, Ntando Mahlangu.

There are quite a few similarities between eight year old Tshepo Rasebeka and Paralympian Ntando Mahalngu (15), who Tshepo calls his ‘best hero’.

Apart from the fact they have cause (congenital hemimelia) and type (through the knee) of amputation in common, both were learners at Pretoria School for the Disabled when we first met them, and it was AVIS  that stepped up to ensure both boys get a shot by sponsoring their first blades. First Ntando’s in 2012, and then Tshepo’s in 2016.

Just like Ntando, Tshepo’s lower legs were not functional and he had to get around either by wheelchair, or by crawling around on his hands and knees.

‘Getting his prosthetic legs changed everything. He saw Ntando on TV during the Rio Paralympics and was so inspired. He even got to meet Ntando on the day he received his first blades and still sees him at Jumping Kids sometimes’, says Tshepo’s father.

It is now a bit more than a year after Tshepo was fitted with his first blades and, we are happy to report that he is doing great. A spirited, enthusiastic, active kid, Tshepo says he wants to be just like Ntando – and, who knows, he just might be one day.