Meet Thato Mabelane, the first African woman to row across the Atlantic
Thato is a comedian, athlete, cancer survivor, and a South African who speaks almost all 11 of our official languages.
We know that South Africans own a certain flair and that's what makes them so influential.
One South African who has brought the influence with her on her incredibly diverse and fascinating journey is Thato Mabelane.
Mabelane is a comedian, HR specialist, champion rower, breast cancer survivor, mentor, volunteer, fundraiser, businesswoman, entrepreneur, and the first African woman to row across the Atlantic.
And on top of all that she also happens to speak several of our 11 official languages!
The Breakfast team chatted with Mabelane about her 43-day journey rowing across the Atlantic and the challenges she had to face.
She fell in love with rowing at the young and tender age of 14, and being the first African woman to row cross the Atlantic, she shared how she avoided super tankers and encountered a great white shark.
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She calls herself a third-generation coconut and has an upcoming stand-up comedy performance at Natal Royal Yacht Club in Durban on 28 October 2023 and Durban Beach Club on 29 October 2023.
‘3rd Generation Coconut’, which she wrote, is about her life experiences and debunking stereotypes, specifically referencing her love of water. Her act is refreshed and changed according to the current situations and what life throws at her – and there’s plenty of material thanks to her ‘day job’ in HR.
Being a survivor of breast cancer, her fight has really impacted her outlook on life. This experience has motivated her public speaking journey, as well as her aim to inspire those she comes into contact with.
For more from East Coast Radio
Fighting breast cancer was one of the scariest times of her life.
Not only did it shake her badly, but it also took a great deal of mental strength and sheer guts to get through it. She won the battle and qualified for the World Coastal Rowing Championships in Portugal... one month after chemotherapy!
Just hearing that indicates what type of woman Thato is.
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Image Courtesy of East Coast Radio