Rebecca “Mama Beka” Ntsan’wisi won Volunteer of the Year accolade at the 2024 South African Sports Awards.
Philanthropist, Rebecca “Mama Beka” Ntsan’wisi, hardly cuts the figure of a revolutionary.
She is neither an intimidating politician nor a militant Black Consciousness socio-political commentator but a community activist determined to transform the lives of her people – she has already done the unthinkable in football for the elderly women.
The 2024 winner of the Volunteer of the Year accolade during 17th edition of the South African Sports Awards has just added another laurel to her ever- growing silverware cabinet.
The illustrious volunteer was recognised for her inputs on a charitable foundation in sport since Ntsan’wisi has dedicated her time and effort to sport on a continuous basis.
The brain and driving force behind the grannies football side, Vhakhegula Vhakhegula, Ntsan’wisi is likened by her devoted disciples to a persuasive religious version of the Rhema Church’s Pastor Ray McCauley.
Affectionately known as “Mama Beka” and lumped with the moniker of “Limpopo’s Mother Theresa”, Ntsan’wisi’s pioneering spirit is the stuff of sporting excellence.
Since the inception of the Vhakhegula Vhakhegula team, she has demonstrated an unwavering spirit of volunteerism which has visible impact in sport development.
Her selflessness in community building and social engineering has been the talking points from myriad praise singers and the revolution continues to be televised.
Walking down memory lane, reminiscing of how the idea of establishing a football team comprising local grannies, the former radio personality purrs like a cat handed a saucer of cream.
“It begun as a crazy idea of gathering Vhakhegula wearing long skirts and doeks. It was hilarious in an entertaining manner to see them chasing a soccer ball like headless chickens. It was in the early 2000s when football was the national agenda ahead of the 2010 FIFA World Cup to be staged on the African continent for the first time. The timing was perfect though the road ahead was uncertain. There were mixed emotions emanating from the prophets of doom and well-wishers who embraced the idea of a healthy lifestyle among rural grannies. Despite the stormy weathers, we navigated the rough terrains and, as they say, the rest is history. We are now reaping the rewards of our hard labour and everyone is celebrating with us” says Mama Beka.
Despite battling with colon cancer, the 56-year-old humanitarian from Nkowankowa township outside Tzaneen has crisscrossed the globe with the grannies, achieving lifetime dreams they never envisaged.
After 25 years at SABC radio station, Mughanalonene FM, Mama Beka hanged up her headphones and ventured into community development, embracing football as her first love.
One of Vhakhegula Vhakhegula’ memories was the 2010 tour of the United States of America where they met former president Barack Obama and the trip to Brazil for the 2014 FIFA World Cup.
Mama Beka recently led a contingent of 40 women to Mauritius to exchange experience with their Mauritian counterparts to highlight the significance of physical activity, create an awareness on health issues among the elderly and promote social cohesion.