Sello Maphosa spent 30 years with Multiple Sclerosis symptoms before being diagnosed; he shares his story to raise awareness for the men who are told it’s not MS.
South Africa (28 March 2025) – This year marks a very important celebration for Multiple Sclerosis South Africa. The incredible organisation is celebrating 75 years of raising awareness and support for South Africans with Multiple Sclerosis (MS). To honour those South Africans, we are delighted to highlight their inspiring stories as they face the unknown battles with their bodies to live life to the fullest. Today, we meet Sello Maphosa.
The disease is still underrepresented in South Africa, but that is about to change! Multiple Sclerosis South Africa (MSSA) is raising the profile of the disease, offering support for families and raising funds to help make a difference. Their goal is to unite Africa and create a federation for the continent that will empower thousands of sufferers.
We hope to highlight many stories for their 75th anniversary: a diamond jubilee, so to speak. It is a celebration of all the gems who aim to make living with MS a little easier.
What is Multiple Sclerosis
Multiple sclerosis is an unpredictable, often disabling disease of the central nervous system. It interrupts the flow of information within the brain and between the brain and body. Symptoms can range from numbness and tingling to blindness and paralysis.
Every case is proving unique, and the progress, severity and specific symptoms of MS in any one person cannot yet be predicted, but advances in research and treatment are moving closer to a world free of MS.
Most people with MS are diagnosed between the ages of 20 and 50, with at least two to three times more women than men being diagnosed with the disease. MS affects more than 2.3 million people worldwide. MS is one of the most common diseases of the central nervous system. Today, over 2,500,000 people around the world have MS.
There is so much more to the disease, which we have shared for World MS Day 2023 here.
Sello’s Take on Living with Multiple Sclerosis.
Sello Maphosa was born and raised in Potchefstroom, North West. It was here that he found his love for sports and spent his youth playing sports, which led to his love of golf. His love of golf is still a massive part of his life, but sadly, due to his Multiple Sclerosis, he can only spectate from home.
Sello attended Wits University, where he earned his BComm degree and later earned his Master’s in Business Administration. He went into banking after his studies, working as a retail banker, and today, he works in Relationship Banking, where he focuses on small businesses. Despite the challenges his MS poses, Sello loves his job.
He first started getting MS symptoms in 1988 but was only formally diagnosed in 2018. This tragically long period of being undiagnosed was mostly due to the fact that Sello is an African man, and typically, men in this demographic are not affected by the disease. MS diagnoses generally take longer than usual, but for Sello, finally having answers after nearly 30 years was a huge relief. Before diagnosis, he had gone blind in 2009, and it truly baffled his doctors; today, they finally understand what had happened.
“Formal diagnosis was actually good for me, as my life was tough, as I did not understand what was wrong with me. I learnt to understand myself.
And it helped to be on treatment. Before, I was so hard on myself, thinking that I was incompetent and useless.”
Having been told MS was not the cause nearly a decade and a half ago, Sello now knows his disease is more than just his burden, but one that can raise awareness for South Africans who don’t fit within the guidelines of diagnosis.
“From 2010 doctors ruled out MS because they did not believe that an African can have MS…what a fallacy! I was actually told that I was one of only two Africans in South Africa who have Multiple Sclerosis!”
Over the course of the year, we will meet many more South Africans of colour who have been formally diagnosed. In South Africa, where we have a melting pot of heritage and culture, sharing stories like Sello’s can be life-changing!
Having faced the past 30 years with mild to severe symptoms of MS, we asked Sello what his greatest triumph was. He shared that completing his studies was a massive triumph!
“I have missed lots of opportunities within the bank because of MS. The feeling of incompetency and cognitive issues… memory loss during interviews. Of course, MS has cost me millions of rands in lost earnings.
Study was extremely difficult and the fact that I had cognitive issues and inability to understand and comprehend was a major issue. The completion of my degrees was a major triumph.”
There are good days and bad days, but Sello has some very sound advice for those in the process of diagnosis.
“Do not be hard on yourself! Acceptance of your condition and circumstances is key.
Read a lot about MS and belong to a support group. Mental resilience is very important.
Make adjustments and ensure that your immediate support structure understands the condition.”
While Sello may not be active on the golf course anymore, he indulges in all the sports offerings available on TV. And when not cheering on his favourite teams or golfers, Sello is spoiling his wife Zandile with homemade desserts or recipes he finds online.
Sello’s story is one of resilience and a determination to never give up in finding the answers. MS can be a hard medical journey, but with inspiring people who forge a way forward despite all the pain and odd symptoms, they make it easier for every person who comes along this journey next.
Sources: MSSA / GTG Interview
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