What does it mean to be a leader?
“Being a leader means you have to carry hundreds of people with you. You do not need thousand rod ands or to be rich to became a leader in your society. You can be referred to as a leader due to the positive outcome you have invested in the society.”
Philisiwe Dlamini (41) from Umlazi ward 48, south of Durban, speaks passionately about how she found herself as a leader.
Year 2015, on the 7th of October a young boy called Azola was left with a birth certificate and the clothes he was wearing,” said Dlamini. “That was the day I felt that God’s timing is everything, the boy was a sign from God that I have to change people’s lives. I believe God left an angel for me to guide and rescue.”
She is unemployed, but her children have jobs and assist her in what she says is “my calling”. She explains, “My children are the ones who bring food to the table in that way, if someone is in need of bread I give them bread, if someone is in need of a shelter, I offer them with shelter. Basically, my role is to be a helper whenever help is needed. I am building a society that will never feel ashamed of seeking help when they are in need and a society that promotes support and care.”
What does leadership mean to you?
“To people you have to be a councillor or a president to be labelled as a leader, but to me I refer a leader as a shoulder to cry on, someone who is there whenever needed. A leader does not wait for funds to support the community but by offering whatever you have, that is leadership.”
She is determined to help the down-trodden and the youth. Mrs Dlamini explains, “My duty is to see people smiling and happy because I can’t be full in my stomach whilst someone is starving. My role is to make sure that in my society no one starves, not on my watch.”
“You do not have to be a councillor or president to be a leader”
She added, “The youth is the foundation of our future they should be given guidance and support.” And she isn’t just paying lip-service. She’s making a difference on the ground. She says, “Umlazi is currently the number one hotspot area of crime in KZN. I created a group called “Together we are strong” and every Thursday, we bring all the youth together and create a fun zone for them. We create plays and have discussions were the youth raise awareness that crime is not the best decision to take.”
Mbali Mngomezulu (16) one of many who can not find words to explain how grateful she is to have Mrs Dlamini in her life. “I call her mama because she plays a big role in life, she guides, protect and love me like her own, my biological mother is still alive however she always remind me how useless I am and sometimes starves me but when I come to Mrs Dlamini I feel loved and protected, I never explain myself to her, her door is always open to everyone, anytime and anywhere,” said Mbali.
A leader is a leader judged by his or her actions in the community and that is Mrs Dlamini who is the pillar and strength in the society of Umlazi.
Aphiwe mthembu 