How Nomajama Turned Pain into the Power to Survive, Graduate and Inspire

Photo Credit: @jama_dlamin via Instagram

Loss, rejection, trauma, cancer and hard sacrifices. Nomajama has survived it all with an unyielding spirit and the kind of steadfast strength that has easily left us inspired.

Cape Town, South Africa (10 August 2025) – For Nomajama Nongwe, life hasn’t been a smooth ride, but what makes her a true inspiration is how she’s faced every hurdle and obstacle with strength and courage.

After losing her parents at a young age, Nomajama moved between homes, being raised by various family members and foster parents.

“My childhood was marked by deep pain, including experiences of rejection and sexual abuse. By the age of 16, I was living alone in the Cape Flats — navigating life with survival instincts,” Nomajam recalls.

Despite the trauma and hardships, she kept her head up, refusing to let her past define her future.

“I completed my matric, secured a job, and pursued my academic goals — ultimately earning my Honours degree in Project Management.”

But just as things were finally looking up for her, life took another unexpected turn, exactly one month after completing her studies and at the height of finally realising her career dreams.

“In October 2024, I received a devastating diagnosis: stomach cancer. On the same day, I was offered a job I had long dreamed of — but I was forced to decline it, as my priority shifted to urgent surgery and treatment,” Nomajama sahres.

She underwent chemotherapy from October to December and had a total gastrectomy (the removal of her stomach) in January 2025.

“I hoped that would mark the end of my battle. But shortly after, further scans revealed the cancer had spread to my omentum and mesentery.

“A week before my graduation, I was hospitalised once again. I had lost the ability to speak, experienced hearing loss, and was severely weakened by the intense side effects of the treatment.”

And yet, Nomajama made it to that graduation stage.

“I stood on that stage — in pain, emotionally numb, and physically fragile. I did not feel like a graduate. I felt like a shadow of myself. But I was there. That moment was mine, hard-won and heavy with meaning,” she says.

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Although she has endured more trauma than anyone should have to, and ongoing treatments continue to take their toll, this survivor’s journey is far from over.

Though exhausted, she is still fighting and writing her powerful story.

“Even when I feel shattered, I choose to keep going.”

Nomajama’s story is a powerful reminder of the incredible resilience and strength found in people who face constant hardship with their heads held high. Time and again, she rises above her challenges, and we celebrate the courage and spirit she embodies.