Ntando Mahlangu showing his Medals. Pic By : Lwazi Raul
By Lwazi Raul
From rural Tweefontein Mpumalanga hero was born. Ntando Mahlangu has made a name for himself in Tokyo where he fulfilled his childhood dream where he ended his Tokyo Paralympics fight with a second gold medal.
Speaking to members of the media and members of the public t OR Tambo International airport where he was officially welcomed by Mpumalanga MEC for culture sports and recreation Thandi Shongwe, Minister of Arts and Culture Nathi Mthwethwa and Mayor for Thembisile Hani Local municipality Nomsa Mtsweni. Mahlangu said it wasn’t him running but was doing it for his people in South Africa as well as Mpumalanga and making them proud.
“As a province, we are happy that we still have people like Ntando to make us proud, we are excited in welcoming our Olympic champion back home in style, I am also happy also seeing people from his community to welcome him in style. One will also remember that September is heritage month, when the airport was painted with the Ndebele regalia it also made me happy,” she said.
Ndebele members at the OR Tambo International Airport on Tuesday to welcome Ntando Mahlangu. With them is Thembisile Hani Local Municipality's executive mayor Nomsa Mtsweni.@DCSROfficial @NathiMthethwaSA @Emsamo_News pic.twitter.com/3Tr0ZWLLOw
— 🇿🇦Emsamo🗞️ (@Emsamo_News) September 8, 2021
Mahlangu said he was not only doing this for himself but was doing It for his people which are South Africans and people back home.
“In a true sense, I was not running for myself but was doing this for people home. Going to Tokyo was not all about Ntando Mahlangu anymore but it was bigger than that, whilst running it came to me to say before my last name I have a middle name which is South Africa, even on my long jump I was doing it for myself but was jumping for the nation. If jumping for the nation then it meant I had to jump far and not low as with the nation it is far, it was not only about Mahlangu but was jumping for the nation.
This competition made me think about a lot of things in life, it is not all about the gold medals, not about breaking world records, it is bigger than that. I am glad coming back home with two gold medals and one world record,” he said.
Minister for Arts and Culture Nathi Mthwethwa said as a department they will make sure that we embers all their winners.
“ As a department, we will make sure that we embers those that won, we’re a Gold winner will receive R 450 000 per gold and R120 000 for their coach, Silver medallists will each receive R220 000 per silver and R 70 000 for the coach, with bronze medallists getting about R 100 000per bronze and R 30 000 for the coach,” he said.
Pic By : Malumbi Sindane
