For many South Africans living with dwarfism, the biggest challenge isn’t their height—it’s society’s perception of them. Every day, they navigate a world filled with myths, stereotypes, unsolicited comments, and discrimination. From being treated like children to being stared at in public or overlooked for employment opportunities, many say the emotional burden can be far greater
than the physical one. Tonight, we’re shining a light on what life is really like for people living with dwarfism, the barriers they face, and why awareness, dignity, and inclusion matter more than ever.

For many South Africans living with dwarfism, the biggest challenge isn&rsquo;t their height&mdash;it&rsquo;s society&rsquo;s perception of them.&nbsp;Every day, they navigate a world filled with myths, stereotypes,&nbsp;unsolicited comments, and discrimination. From being treated like&nbsp;children to being stared at in public or overlooked for employment&nbsp;opportunities, many say the emotional burden can be far greater than the physical one. Tonight, we&rsquo;re shining a light on what life is&nbsp;really like for people living with dwarfism, the barriers they face,&nbsp;and why awareness, dignity, and inclusion matter more than ever.

METRO FM Talk with Faith Mangope

METRO FM Talk with Faith Mangope

AFTER 8 IS AFTER 8: Little People - Big World: Living with Dwarfism

Imagine a child who spends hours training, sacrifices weekends with friends, balances schoolwork with competitive sport and knows that a place in the first team could determine their future opportunities. Now imagine that same child making a mistake during an important match. Instead of simply being disappointed, they are terrified of going home because they know their parents will be angry, their coach may drop them, or their teammates may lose respect for them. For that child, sport is no longer just about playing, learning and enjoying the game. It has become a test of their worth. So, how do we get the balance right? How do we raise children who are ambitious and competitive but who also understand that losing is part of sport, resting is not weakness, and being dropped from a
team does not make them failures? How can parents recognise when their child needs support rather than another motivational speech? And what responsibility do schools and coaches have to
protect the wellbeing of the young people entrusted to them? Tonight, we're looking at the darker side of competitive youth sport and asking how we can equip parents to support their children's
ambitions without sacrificing their mental health. Joining us is Dr Bonginkosi Mafuze, head of the Sports and Exercise Psychiatry Special Interest Group at the South African Society of Psychiatrists.

Imagine a child who spends hours training, sacrifices weekends with&nbsp;friends, balances schoolwork with competitive sport and knows that&nbsp;a place in the first team could determine their future opportunities.&nbsp;Now imagine that same child making a mistake during an important&nbsp;match. Instead of simply being disappointed, they are terrified of&nbsp;going home because they know their parents will be angry, their&nbsp;coach may drop them, or their teammates may lose respect for them. For that child, sport is no longer just about playing, learning&nbsp;and enjoying the game. It has become a test of their worth. So, how do we get the balance right? How do we raise children who&nbsp;are ambitious and competitive but who also understand that losing is&nbsp;part of sport, resting is not weakness, and being dropped from a team does not make them failures? How can parents recognise&nbsp;when their child needs support rather than another motivational&nbsp;speech? And what responsibility do schools and coaches have to protect the wellbeing of the young people entrusted to them?&nbsp;Tonight, we're looking at the darker side of competitive youth sport&nbsp;and asking how we can equip parents to support their children's ambitions without sacrificing their mental health. Joining us is Dr&nbsp;Bonginkosi Mafuze, head of the Sports and Exercise Psychiatry&nbsp;Special Interest Group at the South African Society of Psychiatrists.

After 8 Is After 8: When winning becomes everything — the pressure on young  athletes

The African National Congress has won a major legal battle against the Electoral Commission of South Africa, with the Constitutional Court ruling in its favour in a dispute over 181 of its candidates who were excluded from contesting the upcoming local government elections. At the centre of this dispute was a crucial final step on the IEC’s online nomination system. The ANC had uploaded its candidates’ details and paid the required deposits, but failed to click the “submit as final” button before the deadline. The IEC rejected the nominations, and the Electoral Court initially upheld that decision.
The ANC then took the matter to the country’s highest court, arguing that a technical requirement on an online system should not prevent its candidates from contesting the elections. The Constitutional Court has now ordered the IEC to take the necessary steps to include the affected candidates on the ballot papers ahead of the November 4 elections. But what does this judgment mean for the enforcement of electoral deadlines, the independence of the IEC and the principle that all political parties must play by the same rules? And does this ruling resolve the controversy, or does it raise further questions about the ANC’s candidate nomination process? We discuss the implications of this
landmark decision.

The African National Congress has won a major legal battle against&nbsp;the Electoral Commission of South Africa, with the Constitutional&nbsp;Court ruling in its favour in a dispute over 181 of its candidates who&nbsp;were excluded from contesting the upcoming local government&nbsp;elections.&nbsp;At the centre of this dispute was a crucial final step on the IEC&rsquo;s&nbsp;online nomination system. The ANC had uploaded its candidates&rsquo;&nbsp;details and paid the required deposits, but failed to click the &ldquo;submit&nbsp;as final&rdquo; button before the deadline. The IEC rejected the&nbsp;nominations, and the Electoral Court initially upheld that decision. The ANC then took the matter to the country&rsquo;s highest court, arguing&nbsp;that a technical requirement on an online system should not prevent&nbsp;its candidates from contesting the elections.&nbsp;The Constitutional Court has now ordered the IEC to take the&nbsp;necessary steps to include the affected candidates on the ballot&nbsp;papers ahead of the November 4 elections. But what does this&nbsp;judgment mean for the enforcement of electoral deadlines, the&nbsp;independence of the IEC and the principle that all political parties&nbsp;must play by the same rules? And does this ruling resolve the&nbsp;controversy, or does it raise further questions about the ANC&rsquo;s&nbsp;candidate nomination process? We discuss the implications of this landmark decision.

ConCourt Rules in ANC’s Favour in Candidate List Dispute

Imagine looking back on your life ten years from now and realising
that some of the things you wanted most never happened — not
necessarily because you lacked the talent, the qualifications, the
resources or the opportunity, but because you were too afraid to try.
Afraid to fail. Afraid to be rejected. Afraid to disappoint your family.
Afraid of what people would say if you stepped outside the life they
expected you to live.
For many of us, fear influences decisions in ways we do not even
recognise. It can keep us in jobs where we are unhappy, prevent us
from speaking up when we are being mistreated, stop us from
pursuing relationships we want or make us abandon our dreams
before we have even started. We become so focused on everything
that could go wrong that we never consider what might go right. And
even when we have overcome challenges before, that confidence
does not always follow us into the next chapter of our lives.
But is fear always something we need to overcome, or are there
times when it is warning us to slow down and think carefully? And if
we are honest with ourselves, how much of what we call being
realistic is actually fear of the unknown? Tonight, we are talking
about the fears that hold us back, the opportunities we miss
because of self-doubt, and how we begin to move forward even
when we are not entirely confident. Joining us is Kim Vermaak,

whose reflections on fear and personal progress open up an

What Is Fear
Stopping You From
Doing?
Kim Vermaak -
Emotional Intelligence
Specialist

important question for all of us: Are you making decisions based
on what you truly want, or on what you are afraid might
happen?

Imagine looking back on your life ten years from now and realising that some of the things you wanted most never happened &mdash; not necessarily because you lacked the talent, the qualifications, the resources or the opportunity, but because you were too afraid to try. Afraid to fail. Afraid to be rejected. Afraid to disappoint your family. Afraid of what people would say if you stepped outside the life they expected you to live. For many of us, fear influences decisions in ways we do not even recognise. It can keep us in jobs where we are unhappy, prevent us from speaking up when we are being mistreated, stop us from pursuing relationships we want or make us abandon our dreams before we have even started. We become so focused on everything that could go wrong that we never consider what might go right. And even when we have overcome challenges before, that confidence does not always follow us into the next chapter of our lives. But is fear always something we need to overcome, or are there times when it is warning us to slow down and think carefully? And if we are honest with ourselves, how much of what we call being realistic is actually fear of the unknown? Tonight, we are talking about the fears that hold us back, the opportunities we miss because of self-doubt, and how we begin to move forward even when we are not entirely confident. Joining us is Kim Vermaak,
whose reflections on fear and personal progress open up an
What Is Fear Stopping You From Doing? Kim Vermaak - Emotional Intelligence Specialist
important question for all of us: Are you making decisions based on what you truly want, or on what you are afraid might happen?

AFTER 8 IS AFTER 8: Little People - Big World: Living with Dwarfism

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