Need inspiring? This ten-year-

Credit: Sowetan / Antonio Muchave

Need inspiring? This ten-year-old girl born without arms is a Limpopo School’s star pupil

An amazing young girl who has conquered everything life threw at her

Need inspiring? This ten-year-

Credit: Sowetan / Antonio Muchave

The courage of Mbali Mahlale knows no bounds. The Grade Four pupil from Polokwane was born without arms but has heroically refused to let her disability stop her from living her best life.

Mbali, who has taught herself to write using her right foot, is able to eat, play and even wash some items of her own clothes. The way she has strived for independence is nothing short of inspirational.

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She currently attends Myngenoegen English Private School, where she is the only disabled pupil at the school which 480 pupils attend from Grade R to right up to 12.

When The Sowetan went to document her incredible story, Mbali was able to control and play with a plastic ball and thoroughly enjoyed skipping rope. Two of her friends, Theto and Naledi – said there was ‘nothing she cannot do’.

Back in the classroom, Mbali demonstrated why she was such a star pupil, taking notes and keenly listening to the teacher. She admitted that writing with her feet is ‘very tiring’, but just look at what she produced.

This is more legible than anything I or anyone I know has ever produced. This girl is incredible…

Mbali’s academic performance has been described as being “out of this world” by her class teacher Sophy Maluleke, who commented on the girl’s achievement of getting high marks in every subject.

Despite the 10-year old’s excellent capabilities, her mother Vutlhari believes that now is the time to get her artificial limbs and increase what she can do for herself when she heads into puberty.

Vutlhari said she had approached the Polokwane Hospital to get artificial limbs but was told they were not available and were expensive.

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A spokesman for the provincial department of health, Derrick Kganyago, defended the hospital response, saying that they were only made fully aware of Mbali’s situation last week. He promised that the department would do their best to try and help her.

There’s your motivation, folks. Next time you are struggling through a dreary Monday, just think… What would Mbali do?