Milka Bazeka
Nominee's Province:
Western Cape
Age:
24
Project Name/Description:
Her life may be restricted by a physical condition, but the spirit and heart of Milka Bazeka know no bounds. The 24-year-old has always maximised any opportunity provided, and today she is a human capital graduate, working at her alma mater the Cape Peninsula University of Technology, as a retention officer and inspiring a growing audience on TikTok. Born in the DRC, Milka was sent to South Africa for better medical care for her condition, called osteogenesis imperfecta, more commonly referred to as brittle bone disease. And it was through the trials and tribulations of this journey, living as a foreigner (often without both her parents being with her), that she quickly matured and achieved milestones that her younger self could only dream of. “These achievements are especially meaningful because there was a time when many questioned whether I would ever be able to work independently,” she says. The young woman is a vibrant motivator on TikTok for her community of over 29 000 followers. “Every message from someone inspired by my journey reminds me that representation matters. “I strive to occupy spaces and prove that limitations do not define potential. I want all young people, especially those with disabilities, to believe that their dreams are possible,” she says.
