By Nkhensani Hlungwani
A 57-year-old businessman from Tembisa, a township north of Kempton Park in Gauteng, won the 2020 1Life Life Changer Award in the category of 1Life’s socially influential award, during a dazzling ceremony in March at Johannesburg’s Ticketpro Dome.
Martin Phalane who has a physical disability was selected amongst 1 000 nominees by the select team from DStv Mzansi Magic and 1Life insurance company. “, for good”, according to the Mzansi Magic website.
Phalane, the owner of Phalane Miracle Wheels Repairs,received a R50 000 cash prize and another R50 000 to pay forward to a cause of his choice. His choice was Ithembelihle, a Learners with Special Education Needs (LSEN) school in Germiston where Phalane works part time to help physiotherapists to repair wheelchairs for children with physical disabilities.
“I used the money to buy wheelchair materials that were needed in my business and also gave Ithembelihle their share to buy wheelchairs, crutches and other things needed for learners with physical disabilities,” he says.
Phalane was involved in a car accident a few years ago which left him in a coma for five months.
His sister Nkatsana Emily Phalana says, “When we were about to switch the machine off, he miraculously woke up, and because of that my brother is now known as Ntate Phalane ‘The Miracle Man’.
With all this I want to say I am grateful and not ashamed to call him my brother and I wish God can continue to bless him will all his heart desires.”
Ntate Phalane started Phalane Miracle Wheels Repairs.
The businessman was nominated by Ponatshego Seboola, a director in his business who says, “As a person with physical disability who was close to death, this zealous man in his late 50s has inspired change and reminds us that the biggest change we can achieve is being selfless in order to serve others. He deserved to win this award.”
Phalane says he lives by this adage: “Life is 10% what happens to you and 90% how you react.”