Natania Botha

Those who have the ability, have a responsibility. Those who can must. I can, therefore I am.
I am Natania Botha, born 19th of May 1988 in Pretoria, South Africa. Growing up, I had a fairly average childhood and up until the age of 16 I did not have a care in the world, nor understanding the true meaning of responsibility. Due to poor family decisions I had no choice but to leave high school, find a job and take charge as the financial provider for my family.
Being a head strong woman I made a silent promise to myself that I will never let my circumstances interfere with my potential to become something great.
Through hard work and determination, not only did I return to school and graduate, I have since completed my National Diploma in Financial Planning and Business Practice. A hunger for learning drove me to take additional courses in creative writing, sales management, procurement and marketing which form the fundamentals of where I am today.
Inspired to reach my full potential, I decided to leave a 13 year relationship of unhappiness, move to a new town and leave my corporate career. I embarked on my new adventure to advocate my passion for the conservation of the environment, its improvement, preservation, pollution control and plant and animal diversity. I am also a proud Unitar student and have completed almost 100 United Nations accredited courses. My passion for development has never faltered and I will continue to invest in developing my knowledge and skills. My future goal is to obtain my masters in Environmental Law.
In 2014 I was afforded the opportunity to represent my country carrying the national public title called Mrs Queen of South Africa. This title brought unending growth and a new appreciation for a purpose-driven life. I used this platform to motivate women and children from all walks of life to identify their purpose and become the best version of themselves. After my year of reign, the South African Department of Sports, Arts, Culture and Recreation awarded me with an “Influencer” award and an ambassador’s title, which gave me the opportunity to unearth unidentified and hidden talent in women and children in townships and the rural areas.
I was also fortunate to receive both category nominations for; Engaging Personality of the year & Ambassadorial community excellence, for the 2018 Adara Awards, This made me realise that dreams can come true, but that it will not fall from the sky – success comes to those who work hard, plan and prepare not to fail. No matter what your circumstances are, you – as an ordinary person – can reach your full potential. I believe that it is neither your history nor your education, but it is the quality of your mind
Impossible? No! I find more fulfilment knowing that I am bold, I can excel, I can achieve something greater than what our stereotypical society expected me to become.
I know that making mistakes and learning from it will count in my favour, so that I can continuously evolve, serve, be thankful, forgive and start again.
I want to live the moment as if it was never too early, as if it was never too late. I want to remain optimistic so I can balance my strengths, my hopes and reload my energies so I can prosper in my vision to live a life of purpose and not priority.
Nelson Mandela who was a great humanitarian leader of my country once said, “ it is an ideal which I hope to live and achieve, but if needs be it is an ideal for which I am prepared to die” I too, want to walk with the certainty that I will reach my destination. I want to fight with the certainty that I am going to win. I want to search with the certainty that I am going to find. I want to look back on my adventure and say …that I was part of the greatest story ever told.
It reminds me that we should always look life straight in the eye and say that not sadness, disappointment, uncertainty or loneliness can keep us from smiling. Not fear, depression or the suffering of our hearts can stop us from dreaming. Not desperation, ignorance, much less the hate, rape and suppression of past generations, can keep us from living. I want to share my passion to shape hearts, shift mind-sets and use my capabilities to build value-adding and sustainable relationships with social and political leaders.