Hailing from a village in the Eastern Cape, Lamani has loved every moment of the 2024 Paralympics.
As South Africas only judoka in Paris, the 32-year-old is shining a spotlight on the rural village where he was raised, Cape {town} Etc reports.
In 2011, the Eastern Cape village, Peddie, had a population of less than 5000 people.
Peddie is situated approximately two hours away from Gqeberha and one hour away from East London. Here, Lamani grew up with his blind mother, Vathiwe, and his aunt, Neliswa.
I had to take my passport and a medal that I had previously won to the elder in the village because no one would believe that I could be representing South Africa he commented.
