This leadership success story is about my father, Dr Norman Bantwini “Totose” Ngcipe.

He was born in Somerset East, Eastern Cape (10 November 1955). He enrolled to study Medicine at the University of Natal -Wentworth in 1976. He fulfilled the requirements for the degree of Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery in 1981, at the age of 26 and commenced his internship at Edendale hospital, Pietermaritzburg in 1982.

Dr. Ngcipe was an underground ANC operative and Umkhonto we Sizwe (MK) Cadre. His underground work started while he was still a student and continued working for the ANC even after starting work at Edendale Hospital. On the 9th of December 1982 that he met his untimely death in exile, when the SADF raided ANC houses in Maseru, Lesotho. 41 other people were killed including Lesotho citizens. He had gone to Maseru as part of his briefing mission with his ANC handlers. He was only 27 years old.

The short life story of Dr Ngcipe is proof that, no matter how humble your beginnings are, you can turn your dreams into reality. With meager resources and determination, he was able to fulfill his dream of becoming a doctor. In the words of Nelson Mandela “Education is the great engine of personal development. It is through education that the daughter of a peasant can become a doctor, that the son of a mineworker can become the head of a mine, that a child of farm workers can become the president of a great nation. It is what we make out of what we have, not what we are given, that separates one person from another.”

Norman sacrificed his life for the liberation of the poor masses. He could have chosen to start his own practice and not be involved in the fight for liberation as it was not safe at the time. He was a selfless, peace loving and humble soul.

He may be dead but his life lesson continues to give hope to Somerset East youth. In his honor the Dr NB Ngcipe Foundation was founded. The Foundation is dedicated to driving positive change in the lives of South Africa’s youth through educational programs. It is my hope and dream that our programs will one day produce doctors, engineers, artisans and community leaders with moral values and integrity.

I hope that by sharing this story, someone out there will start dreaming about a brighter future, believe that they can achieve it and take action – no matter their circumstances. If Dr Ngcipe did it, so can you!!! Go on, start something, leave a legacy, make your mark – today!!!! #onelove #ubuntu