From Manenberg to the World Stage: Soso Notshe Turns Adversity into Para Table Tennis Success.

Soso at the front desk
at Bush Radio

After a life changing shooting left him with mobility challenges, Cape Town para table tennis player Samkele Notshe known as Soso, refused to let his circumstances define his future. For  Notshe, table tennis is more than a sport. It has become a vehicle for resilience, opportunity and a chance to inspire others facing challenges similar to his own.

The 36-year-old South African para table tennis player recently represented the country at the ITTF World Para Future Table Tennis Championships in Kazakhstan, where he and Sthabile Francisca Mnyandu claimed a bronze medal in the mixed doubles XD20 event.

Speaking on Bush Radio’s BackChat on the 31 August 2026, was Samkele Soso Notshe who shared his journey from discovering table tennis as a child to competing on the international stage. Notshe started playing table tennis at the age of 12, after becoming interested in the sport through a group of young players in his community. He recalls being part of a group that trained together under their first coach, whom they called “Champ”. 

For Notshe, the experience introduced him to a sport that was not necessarily common in his community.“I was the first person there to play with a forehand,” he said, explaining how his early experiences helped develop his interest and showed him that the sport could take him further. 

That journey was interrupted when Notshe was shot three times in the leg during a robbery in Manenberg. The injury affected his mobility and forced him to spend a significant amount of time sitting, but Notshe eventually returned to sport and adapted to para table tennis. 

He credits his mindset for helping him overcome the physical and emotional challenges that followed.

“Disability is something that is in your mind,” Notshe said. 

Notshe in studio after the interview 

For him, the message is not that disability is easy to overcome, but that the way a person responds to their circumstances can influence what they believe is possible. His return to sport eventually led to a successful para table tennis career, including multiple national championships and opportunities to compete internationally.

His latest international experience came in Kazakhstan, where Notshe and his mixed doubles partner Sthabile Francisca Mnyandu reached the semi-finals and secured a bronze medal. Notshe described the trip as a valuable experience, both personally and as part of the South African team.

The international competition also underlined areas he believes need more attention if South African players are to compete at an even higher level. He believes athletes need access to more training camps, international coaches and opportunities to compete overseas. According to Notshe, greater exposure could help South African players return home with even more medals. But his ambitions extend beyond his own career.

“We are thinking for the juniors as well,” he said. 

Notshe and Mnyandu success in the mixed doubles was also built on an established relationship between the two players. The pair have known each other for a long time and continued communicating after the competition to discuss their next steps. Although they are based in different parts of the country, Notshe said the partnership remains important as they continue working towards future competitions. The bronze medal has become another milestone in a career that continues to grow. But Notshe is not satisfied with simply reaching the international stage. He knows there are areas of his game that still require work, particularly his mindset and confidence in his backhand. For him, improving those aspects could help him push towards even greater results. 

Sthabile and Soso playing table tennis together.
Picture from facebook

Notshe's development has also taken him beyond South Africa. In 2018, he spent three months training in China, an experience he describes as a major turning point in his game. When he returned to South Africa, he noticed a significant improvement in his playing ability and said he was even able to compete successfully against able-bodied players. The experience also gave him knowledge that he now wants to share with others. For Notshe, development is not only about improving his own career. It is also about creating a pathway for the next generation.

One of Notshe's strongest messages is that South Africa needs to create more opportunities for athletes with disabilities across different sporting codes. He believes disability sport should not be treated as an afterthought. From basketball and soccer to cricket and table tennis, Notshe wants more attention and investment directed towards athletes with disabilities. 

“Maybe we can win a soccer World Cup with a disability. We'll never know,” he said. 

Soso with Backchat team.

For Notshe, greater inclusion could reveal talent that is currently underrated. He also believes athletes with disabilities possess knowledge and experiences that can contribute to coaching and development in ways that differ from able-bodied athletes. Despite everything he has already achieved, Notshe's ambitions remain firmly focused on the future. His next major goal is to compete at the Paralympics, while also becoming more involved in development programmes in schools and communities. He wants to use his experience to encourage young people to take up table tennis and demonstrate that sport can open doors. His message to those who may be facing their own obstacles is simple: do not give up. 

Notshe is also calling for support from communities, organisations and potential partners who want to help grow para table tennis. He says people can get involved through clubs and community spaces where table tennis is already being played, including clubs in Woodstock and surrounding areas. For Notshe, the journey is far from over. From discovering table tennis at 12, surviving a life-changing shooting, adapting to disability, becoming a national champion and stepping onto the international stage, his story is one of determination but also of what can happen when opportunity meets persistence.

And as he sets his sights on the Paralympics, Notshe is not only playing for himself. He wants the next generation to see disability not as the end of a journey, but as something they can navigate while still pursuing their dreams. 

Written By Unathi Ngomana.