Romano du Plooy (27) has faced many challenges in life, but believes you should never show weakness.
Born and raised in the Diamond City, he is the owner of Drop King Customs, a workshop that does customizing on vehicles.
Romano has been through hell. Not only was he in hospital for six weeks due to a bacterial infection, but his dad was in hospital in Sudan at the same time.
“I was fighting a bacterial infection and had to be hospitalised for six weeks. I was lying there in pain, thinking I was not going to make it. At the same time, my father was in the hospital in Sudan. It was so bad, I could not walk.”
“I kept on praying and asking God to get me out of that situation. I kept my faith and believed and trusted in Him. At that time I felt how God works when you believe in Him and trust His timing.”
Romano made a full recovery and tells about his favourite memory as a child.
“I can remember as a young boy how I used to make music on drums and tablets to create my own vibe, playing music in my house when we had family time. I also remember how my friends and I used to build sound boxes on bicycles to ride around in the streets and play music wherever we went.”
Romano also tells of a time when he was diagnosed with depression.
“In the year 2018 I got diagnosed with depression. I felt like giving up on life and closing my eyes forever. I seeked for help and was hospitalized for two weeks and in those two weeks in the hospital, I met people who shared their stories with me. It made me realize how small my problems were. In the last week I made the change and inspired people older then me in that room. I shared a part of me with them that they never knew and I made a huge change in my own life. Helping others and seeing the change in them makes me happy. I never stopped helping people in and around my circle. Each and every day I get challenges that I don’t fear anymore. Today I stand tall as a God-fearing man. My word is my honour. I always say sticks and stones may break my bones, but words will never hurt me.”
He says he is not one to easily show emotion.
“I’m very hard at showing my emotions at times. When it goes bad, I will never show it. At times when all is well, I’ll always be humble. I never show weakness.”
