Sensational dancer returns home to a hero’s welcome

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Tears of joy and jubilations prevailed on the faces of family, friends and fans when inspirational dancer Musa Motha landed on home soil to a hero’s welcome at the OR Tambo International Airport on Saturday.

• Was diagnosed with bone cancer at the age of 10
• Had his left leg amputated from the hip at the age of 11
• Learned how to play football and dance with one leg
• Made history at Britain’s Got Talent becoming the first contestant to get a group Golden Buzzer

Motha set the stage on fire in the Britain’s Got talent series last month. He also won the emerging artist award at the United Kingdom’s (UK) National Dance Awards.

The 27-year-old amputee star from Sebokeng who was diagnosed with bone cancer at the age of 10 made it to the final of the show earlier this year.

Musa made his way to the UK back in February as part of the plan to enter the talent competition. He took it to heart badly being knocked out in the semi-finals: “I felt like I have failed the world by not winning,” he said at the time.

WATCH: Inspirational dancer Musa Motha gets FIRST EVER GROUP GOLDEN BUZZER!

Musa’s mother, Ntokozo who couldn’t hide her excitement said, “I am so overwhelmed today, I can’t even say a word. I’m happy and so proud of him because he has raised the flag of South Africa very high and I’m happy that he has done so well up to so far; now, everybody can see that there is talent out there and that other people can do better as well.”

Reading a statement in Minister of Sports, Arts and Culture Zizi Kodwa’s absentia, Acting DG Dr Stella Khumalo said if she could be required to summarise the life of Musa in one line, I could best say, ‘the sky would not be the limit’.

“Despite the challenges that Musa had and experienced in his life, he pulled through against all odds and went on to inspire and display brilliance with all the grace in the world.

“I note that Musa is from Sebokeng, I’m aware of the challenges experienced of growing up in the township. One thing I can indicate is that it was never easy. It came with challenges and a number of social ills. As South Africans we are all aware of the challenges that come with being young, black and disabled person. You are indeed one of our own social-cohesion advocates.”

Following Musa’s enormous achievement, Khumalo further announced that as the department they would like partner with him.

“We have a program in the department specifically for people with disabilities which we refer to as ‘We Can’ and upon looking at your profile, we want to partner with you. Putting you onboard for our weekend programme. We want you to not just perform at that festival but participate in the programme itself. We noted that you are a motivational speaker and we see you as somebody who will help to inspire young creatives in the industry.”

Reliving the story of going to the BGT, Musa said all he wanted was to go out there and do his best and show the world that nothing is impossible.

WATCH: Musa Motha lights up the stage with awe-inspiring dance

“I have a friend and when I got to that side, he told me to try it out. My intention was just to try it out but the reaction that I got was really different. The video which you just saw does not do justice to what was happening in theatre, I could see the technical people from the side of the stage. They were coming to the stage and asking what is going on, the noise over there I couldn’t even hear the judges when they were giving me those.

“The funny part is that I was on a tour for a production, on the day of the audition was the day I had to. I was so tired, I had to go to Manchester – I had to wake up early to be at the train station to get there. Half way through I only remembered that I didn’t bring costume. Basically, I was so stressed out and frustrated.

“However, when I got there [at the auditions] I was so relaxed. Every time I step on stage, I pray at the time I couldn’t have that moment [to pray]. There are two lines that I’ve been taught by my mom that being ‘everything happens for a reason’ and ‘in everything that you do, do your best’ and those were two things that were happening in my mind.

The reaction that I got from the country was simply amazing, even now I’m still trying to digest. It is just so big, bigger than I thought. If a dream that you have does not scare you, it is just a goal,” he concluded.