At only 18, her life changed forever, and 32 years later, Nthabiseng Molongoana still reflects on that day with pain but equal amounts of hope. Today, as Provincial Director of APD Free State, Nthabiseng isn’t just running programs, she’s transforming lives across the entire province. 

She joins Yolanda Maartens in OFM Family Focus to share her story of hope and to challenge you to live life without limits.

In 1994, Nthabiseng Molongoana was an 18-year-old with the world at her feet. She had a clear vision for her future: She was going to be a teacher, shaping young minds and giving back to her community in Botshabelo.

Then, a single moment changed everything. A devastating taxi accident left Nthabiseng paralyzed. 

A tragedy threatening her dreams and visions. For many, this would have been the end of the story. 

Nthabiseng Molongoana. Photo supplied

For Nthabiseng, it was merely the opening chapter of a life defined by “living without limits,” a life where she chooses to hope in the face of tragedy. “I had always believed that education was my ticket to success,” she said. 

Nthabiseng believed that gaining a teaching degree would be her only ticket to a better life. When the accident redirected her path, she didn’t abandon her love for learning and empowering; she allowed it to redirect her.

While working full-time, she navigated the physical and systemic challenges of the early 2000s to earn a Bachelor of Science in Statistics and Psychology from the University of the Free State. 

Making a choice

She wasn’t just collecting a degree; she was gathering the data and the psychological insights needed to understand a world that wasn’t built for people like her. 

She had to learn firsthand what it meant to live with a disability in South Africa, and more importantly, what needed to change. 

“Success isn’t about what happened to you,” Nthabiseng reflects. “It’s about what you choose to do next.”

Hope for the future 

Nthabiseng’s resilience isn’t just academic, it’s deeply practical. Driven by a desire to provide a beautiful home for her late mother, she founded Lentha’s Lodge. 

What began as a personal labor of love evolved into an award-winning accommodation business. Living with a disability gives one a perspective that few have. 

So recognizing that her community needed long-term stability rather than just overnight stays, she transformed her guesthouse into aprovider of long-term lodging. With mentorship from the SAB Foundation Tholoana program, she is now looking beyond a single location, dreaming of a chain of facilities that prioritize dignity and accessibility.

Leading with authenticity

Today, Nthabiseng serves as the Provincial Director of the Association for Persons with Disabilities (APD) in the Free State. In this role, she oversees critical services ranging from residential care at the Jean Webber Home to vocational training at the Kopano Workshop.

What sets her leadership apart is her lived experience. She doesn’t just manage programs; she understands the heartbeat of the community she serves. When she speaks about “re-framing disability asa strategic advantage,” it isn’t corporate jargon, it’s a philosophy she has lived for 32 years.

Nthabiseng Molongoana reminds us that a wheelchair isn’t a cage; for her, it has been a vehicle for hope. Her journey from a tragic accident in 1994 to who she is today speaks of adaptability and vision beyond herself as she has turned personal obstacles into community solutions.

Nthabiseng continues to expand her community impact, proving every day that, while your circumstances might change in an instant, your impact is a choice you make every single morning. mvh