By Mohau Seleka
After losing her grandmother to diabetes, Linamandla Koka made a conscious decision to prioritise her health. She began a wellness journey marked by regular exercise, balanced nutrition, and intentional living.
Originally from Queenstown in the Eastern Cape, Linamandla completed her high school education at Queenstown Girls’ High School, where she actively participated in cultural activities such as debating, drama, and public speaking. She is currently a second-level Medical Science student in the Faculty of Health Sciences, School of Medicine at the University of Limpopo.
Linamandla Koka. Photo by: Mohau Seleka
Her commitment to a healthier lifestyle was inspired by personal loss. Linamandla’s paternal grandmother passed away due to diabetes-related complications, despite taking all the necessary precautions after her diagnosis. This experience made Linamandla realized that many chronic illnesses develop quietly over time.
“Strokes, heart attacks, diabetes, and even dementia don’t appear overnight they are often the result of habits built in our 20s and 30s,” she said. “I didn’t want to wait and react to illness later. I wanted to be intentional and sow the seeds of wellness now.”
Reflecting on the value of good health, she added: “The one wish of anyone on their deathbed isn’t to make more money it’s to have their health back. That’s why I believe health is wealth, and part of honouring the life God gave me.”
Linamandla maintains a consistent wellness routine. She goes to the gym five times a week and meal preps twice weekly to avoid the temptation of fast food. “Structuring my life like this helps me stay consistent, especially as a student with a full schedule,” she explained. “I also stay grounded spiritually — starting my mornings with prayer or reflection keeps me centered.”
She acknowledged that during exam season, wellness can easily take a back seat. “Your health becomes one more thing instead of a priority,” she said. “I’ve learned to give myself grace. I may not hit every workout or eat perfectly every day, but I always try to return to my ‘why.’ Even rest, when done with intention, is an act of wellness.”
Linamandla also cautioned against trying to change everything at once, saying that such an approach often leads to burnout. “True growth happens when we step outside our comfort zones with kindness toward ourselves.”
To her, self-care extends beyond gym sessions and green smoothies it’s also about self-talk, how one treats others, and how one honours the body and life God has entrusted them with. “Wellness, to me, is stewardship showing up with grace, commitment, and giving God glory in how I care for myself and love others,” she concluded.
