09 Mar 2026

Former RB2 presenter, Tebogo ‘Lady of Soul’ Ragontse has emphasised the power of belief and resilience in overcoming life’s challenges.

Now, visually impaired, Ragontse highlighted the need to carry others along in one’s success and to ride on difficult situations, rather than succumbing to pressure. Ragontse said this during the International Women’s Day, hosted by Avani Gaborone Resort and Casino in partnership with Mosha Spa on Friday.

Sharing her story of loss, losing sight and personal growth, Ragontse, who got married in 2013, thought she had life figured out, only for her envisaged future to get shuttered overnight, as her husband passed on the same year, leaving her with a child to raise alone.

“I questioned God why was this happening to me, how am I going to live and what am I going to do alone, but God had his plans,” Ragontse said.

Three years later, while still healing and finding her strength, Lady of Soul lost her sight.  By then, she did not know why she lost her sight. 

“I got blind because I was stressed. I was depressed because I could not handle everything and it was eating me from the inside. I thought I was tough, because women we say we are tough, but we are not,” she said.

Despite her condition, she said she soldiered on and managed to raise her child alone. She said after losing her sight, she stopped working at RB2 and later decided to go return to radio. However, she did not stay long, as she decided to go for further studies.

She went on to study for a Bachelor’s Degree in Broadcasting and Journalism at the Limkokwing University of Creative Technology. She said she knew it was not going to be easy, but with the good systems at Limkokwing University of Creative Technology, she managed and completed her four-year studies before securing a job at Debswana.

While at the university she  became the Student Representative Council president for students living with disabilities. Ragontse therefore encouraged other women to cry if they had to, ask for help and share with other people they trusted, if they were not happy. 

“Keeping quite will  kill one slowly from the inside. I thought I was strong, you could not see it on the outside, but it was damaging me inside. Damaging me to a point where it took my sight, because that was the easiest thing to take. Imagine if it took my life,” she said.

She also cautioned women about competing with one another, saying everyone had a purpose in life.  She implored women to always pray and put God first in everything they did, saying it carried her through during challenges she faced. 

Meanwhile, a Form Three learner at Maoka Junior Secondary School, Gayle Ngoni, who was one of the attendees, said while the day celebrated progress, she acknowledged challenges faced by the girl-child and recognised the collective benefit of supporting and empowering women and girls.

She advocated continuous support of women and girls as that could lead to stronger families, communities and societal advancement.

“Events like these are not only about celebrating women, but also about investing in the women of tomorrow,” said Avani Gaborone Resort and Casino public relations and marketing executive, Samantha Bogopa.

Bogopa said the day was about connection, inspiration and celebrating the strength that existed when women supported one another.

Held under the theme: Give to Gain, the International Women’s Day saw women and girls gathered in conversation, sharing life experiences and opening meaningful connections with the aim to uplift, inspire and support one another. BOPA