Broadcaster Itumeleng Banda started life in Sandton, going to an expensive school and enjoying good times.
But when she was eight years old everything changed.
Her mother, a domestic worker, lost her employment when her employers left for Australia.
Itumeleng and her mother had to move to Alexandra Township.
It was only a few kilometres away, but a world apart.
“I was ashamed of Alex,” said Itumeleng, now 23.
“The place is known for poverty, failure and crime.”
But the determined young woman didn’t let life in the streets of Alex stop her.
Today, Itumeleng is living her dream.
She is a sports broadcaster working alongside celebrities like DJ Sbu, Jabu Mahlangu, Penny Lebyane and others.
She first worked in radio in 2015 as an intern.
But she got into sports broadcasting in 2018 after being given the opportunity by veteran sports broadcaster, Motshidisi Mohono.
“I didn’t know anything about sport, especially football. But Motshidisi took me by my hand and showed me the ropes.
Itumeleng still lives in Alex. She has never left the hood.
“Alex was not as bad a place as I thought when I moved from Rivonia to the township. There are so many talented people in Alex,” she said.
“Alexandra has many diamonds – people who are doing well nationally and even internationally. We are like gold extracted from the mud.”
Itumeleng is the host of Feminine First Touch on Massive Metro every Tuesday between 6 pm and 7 pm.