CAPE TOWN – Several obstacles and the unexpected turn her life took, with an incurable, progressive disease, has not stopped an awarded business woman of Durbanville to give back to her community.
The story of Tess Rodrigues (57) is one of survival, adaptation and purpose, but more importantly, of continued contribution and impact … her latest community project her web page Durbanville Classifieds, which offers small business exposure — boasting of 41 658 followers.
The web page is a go-to for the local community with an A to Z list of reliable suppliers and service providers, an events calendar, contact details for emergency and public services, employment opportunities, as well as interesting articles on the history of Durbanville. The website is mobile friendly and can be used as an app.
“Over the years, my life has taken unexpected turns, yet each chapter has shaped how I show up for today,” she says.
Finalist in businesswoman competition
In 2004 she was a finalist in the Business Woman of South Africa regional awards. In 2005 she received the KPMG and Cape Times Editors’ Choice Award.
In August 2011, together with a Fisantekraal and another Durbanville resident, she helped to organise a Women’s Day event that brought together women from Durbanville and Fisantekraal in celebration of women, cultural differences and more importantly, similarities.
“It remains one of my proudest moments of community involvement,” she says.
Rodrigues was also involved with community issues for years and supported many committees, forums, NGOs with fundraising, collecting donations and petitioning.
Balance lost
About 11 years ago Rodrigues was regularly taking part in a boot camp in Kenridge to stay fit, when she noticed little things such as lifting things, her balance was lost and she had developed bladder issues.
She started to loose her balance and started to fall.
One day she realised something seriously was wrong when she went running and felt how she was dragging her feet and that she had very little control over her legs.
She pulled herself forward until she could not move or lift herself anymore. She had to be transported home.
“I still have very little control over my neck, which makes it very challenging when driving on roads that are not smooth and full of potholes. Following several medical investigations and testing, and no diagnosis, I began to feel like a hypochondriac.”
Progressive multiple scleroris
“On 4 March 2014, my life changed dramatically when I was diagnosed with progressive multiple sclerosis, an autoimmune disease. Once diagnosed and referring back to my medical history, the doctors suspect that I have had multiple sclerosis for 15 years before the diagnosis. I think it’s important that people are more in tune with their bodies and react when they feel that something is not well,” she says.
“It is a disabilitating disease. There are approximately 96 different autoimmune diseases — diabetes type 1, fibromyalgia, rheumatoid arthritis, psoriasis, lupus, Celiac disease, multiple sclerosis (MS), and Crohn’s disease to mention a few. The most well-known autoimmune diseases surpass heart disease and cancer combined. The sad reality is that once you get one autoimmune disease, you can get any other of the 96 illnesses. I know of a fellow sufferer that has a total of 13 autoimmune diseases.
“Similarly, multiple sclerosis is not my first autoimmune disease. My first autoimmune disease was uveitis, an eye inflammation which affects the tissue layer behind the retina. It is extremely painful. My eyes are also very sensitive to light,” she explains.
“Within a year, I was wheelchair-bound. My physical abilities declined rapidly, and the emotional impact was overwhelming. Extreme fatigue, as I have never experienced before, was the order of the day. By early afternoon, simply holding my head upright was a challenge. Running a business under these circumstances was, to say the least, challenging,” she says.
“In November 2014 it was for the first time I wished to die,” she says.
Catalyst for reinvention
Then came Covid. “What could have been the final blow became the catalyst for reinvention. My already fragile property finance business was not going to survive lockdown, and I was forced to think differently, creatively and courageously. That necessity gave birth to Durbanville Classifieds. I did a digital marketing course and what started as a survival strategy evolved into something far bigger,” she says.
Since 2019, she quietly tracked which businesses and service providers residents recommended to one another on Facebook.
“I noticed that people trusted people, not promotions or search results. Existing platforms lacked that human layer. I created a directory based on real recommendations. Every business recommended by a community member was listed free of charge on our platform. Any business that wanted to advertise underwent strict scrutiny. It wasn’t about how much money could be made, but about promoting only legitimate, trustworthy and reputable service providers. The website needed to be something the community could use easily and confidently, and businesses were proud to be associated with. From there, the platform took on a life of its own,” she says.
Today it encompasses employment opportunities, a community events calendar, public services and emergency contacts, and the heritage and history of the town.
“Durbanville Classifieds is a reflection of who I am and how I contribute. It is my way of giving back to a community I love. It is my method of self-expression, my means of survival, my reason to get up every morning and a platform through which I mentor other entrepreneurs and share hard-earned business knowledge. And I can do all that in the comfort of my wheelchair!”
Woman of Wonder Award
In 2022, Rodrigues received the Woman of Wonder Award, with the citation noting her “formidable impact” and leadership as an “iconic trailblazer”.
“I value this recognition not for the title, but for what it represents: that adversity does not disqualify purpose,” she says.
Success recipe
“My attitude has remained simple and unwavering: If you are going to do something, do it to the best of your ability, or don’t do it at all. Stop being so ‘reasonable’. Stop collecting reasons and excuses. Just do it. Be authentic, transparent, and vulnerable. And above all, if I can do it, there is absolutely no reason on earth why you can’t,” she says.
“Do I consider myself successful? I do. Not because of awards, money or recognition, but because I am achieving what I set out to achieve and more. I am positively impacting those around me and contributing meaningfully to my tribe,” Rodrigues says..
- Visit www.durbanvilleclassifieds.co.za to access the web page.
