UKZN PhD student publishes autobiography about living with a disability

UKZN PhD student in Political Sciences Gugu Mjilo has penned an autobiography about living with a disability, called "Akulahlwa Mbeleko Ngakufelwa", that is derived from a Zulu proverb about hope and second chances.

Mjilo, who is wheelchair-bound, details how she lives with a disability, the challenges she deals with and overcoming them. It also depicts how her mother managed to raise her as a disabled child, often with difficulty but with immense love. The book ultimately paints a picture about the lives of people with disabilities, especially those in rural areas.

She considers her book as a teaching tool about disability while giving hope to other people with disabilities as well. "Despite having a disability, I have been able to attain most of the things that people thought are only meant for able-bodied people. Every single achievement is possible only if you put your mind to it and if you challenge yourself to do more than what is expected of you, especially for someone with a disability," she said.

Mjilo is busy with her PhD that focuses on the challenges faced by children with disabilities, particularly how they access basic education to higher education.

Her book is available at R150 from all major book retailers. She also couriers books and orders can be placed directly with her via e-mail [email protected]

For more information, please contact:

Gugu Mjilo
Cell: 071 293 1936 /074 719 9209
[email protected]