New book gives you an energetic guide to landing your ideal job in any market

In his coaching manual for job applicants, author Parker delivers an energetic, helpful, and thought-provoking guide to improving job-applying skills. 

The book offers a methodical strategy for success in the job search process, from assessing marketability to mastering the interview.

One of the book's strengths is Parker's sharp and forceful tone, which sets it apart from other wishy-washy self-help books in the genre. Job seekers are often overwhelmed with advice on resume writing, interview skills, and understanding potential employers. Parker cuts through the noise and provides clear and practical guidance, using graphics, bullet points, and anecdotes to convey information effectively.

The author's emphasis on the importance of understanding one's marketability is particularly valuable. He encourages readers to assess their skills and qualifications relative to the demands of the job market. By adopting a "limitless mindset," job seekers can position themselves as ideal candidates for their dream positions.

Parker covers every aspect of the job search process, including resume formatting, researching companies, and mastering the interview. His advice on interviews is especially insightful, reminding readers that they are essentially selling themselves and their credentials. He warns against common mistakes such as being unaccommodating during scheduling, asking irrelevant questions, and talking too much instead of listening.

Throughout the book, Parker supports his points with anecdotal examples that make them relatable and easy to understand. This approach helps readers connect with the material and see how it applies to their own situations.

Overall, Parker's coaching manual is a valuable resource for job seekers looking to improve their chances of success. Its energetic tone, helpful strategies, and thought-provoking insights make it a must-read for anyone seeking to enhance their job-applying skills.

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Book Review: The Quiet Tenant is an addictive intense thriller

THE QUIET TENANT By CLÉMENCE MICHALLON LITTLE, BROWN

Aidan Thomas lives near a small town. He’s an upstanding family man who's always willing to go out of his way to help others. On top of that, he’s very attractive. 

But Aidan has a dark secret – he’s a kidnapper and serial killer who has killed eight women.

His ninth victim, whom he calls Rachel, has been imprisoned in a backyard shed for five years. When Aidan’s wife dies of cancer, her family kicks him out of the remote home where he’s been living.

He finds a smaller place in town and has no other option than to take Rachel along.
Aidan introduces her to his 12-year-old daughter, Cecilia, as a “family friend” who needs a place to stay.

After meting out five years of captivity and brutal treatment, Aidan is convinced Rachel is too cowed and afraid to attempt to escape. But Rachel is much stronger than she looks . . .

When Emily, a local restaurant owner, develops a crush on the handsome widower, she's drawn into Rachel and Cecilia's orbit and comes dangerously close to discovering Aidan's secret.

Readers will either love or hate this novel. 

It's an extremely slow burn, but it escalates to a shattering climax.

The story is told from the perspective of Rachel, Cecilia and Emily, illustrating the impact that Aidan's actions have on the women and how it brings the three of them together.

It’s a dark and eerie psychological thriller.

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Romantic suspense features Mafia families, kidnapping and unexpected alliances

Her Rebellion by Quinn Marlowe is a thrilling and captivating addition to the New York Rogues: Rossi series. 

This romantic suspense novel takes readers on a wild ride through the dangerous world of warring Italian crime families in New York.

The story revolves around Dante Rossi, the princess of the Rossi family, who is determined to be a part of her family's business despite their wishes. The Rossi brothers want Dante to stay out of the dangerous world they inhabit and focus on her education. However, Dante's rebellious nature leads her to become involved in a daring rescue mission to save her friend Brooks Peterson from the ongoing war between the Rossis and Brennans versus the Carusos and Massimos.

As the story progresses, the Rossi family hatches a plan to infiltrate their enemies' camp and gather crucial information. The catch is that they need someone who won't be recognized, and Dante is the perfect candidate. This assignment becomes Dante's chance to prove herself and become a true Rossi, but it also puts her life at risk.

Quinn Marlowe has crafted a fast-paced and action-packed plot that keeps readers on the edge of their seats. The tension between the feuding families adds an extra layer of suspense to the story, as the consequences of Dante's actions could have far-reaching effects.

The characters in Her Rebellion are well-developed and relatable. Dante's determination and bravery make her a compelling protagonist, while the Rossi brothers' protective nature adds depth to their familial dynamics. The romance between Dante and Dax, another member of the Rossi family, is filled with passion and intensity, adding an emotional element to the story.

One of the strengths of this novel is Marlowe's ability to create a vivid and immersive setting. The gritty underworld of New York's mafia families is brought to life through detailed descriptions and atmospheric writing. Readers will feel like they are right alongside Dante as she navigates the dangerous streets and hidden alleys of the city.

While Her Rebellion is the sixth book in the New York Rogues: Rossi series, it can be read as a standalone. Marlowe provides enough background information to allow new readers to jump into the story without feeling lost. However, fans of the series will undoubtedly appreciate the continuation of the overarching plotline and the familiar faces that make appearances throughout the book.

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Check Out the Beautiful Cover for South African Model Shudufhadzo Musida's New Children's Book!

South African model Shudufhadzo Musida is coming out with another children’s picture book this October titled I Am Shudu: Finding my Voice, Knowing my Strength. 

The book is published by Jacana Media and is an empowering coming-of-age tale inspiring children to follow their dreams.

The book is illustrated by Chantelle and Burgen Thorne. The cover of the book is absolutely stunning and features a lifelike illustration of Musida with a silver crown on her head, long gold earrings, and a gorgeous necklace and golden dress. 

Her skin is glowing with confidence and beauty. The bottom edge of the cover depicts a row of cityscapes to denote all the towns she has lived in during her lifetime.

Although it is a simple cover, it does a great job illustrating the key themes of the book and attracting the reader’s attention. According to the publisher’s synopsis, 

“Shudu’s happy and carefree childhood seems very far away when she moves towns and is bullied by her new classmates for being an outsider. But her special friendships help her feel like she belongs.” Deep inside, Shudu has a spark, a special kind of strength that she didn’t even know was there.

The book encourages readers to find their voice and be themselves, like Shudu. Musida announced the book and the cover on Instagram, hoping that the book will be empowering to young children.

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Book Review: The First Woman is an intoxicating mix from a prize-winning Ugandan novelist

In "The First Woman," Jennifer Makumbi delivers a powerful and enchanting tale that seamlessly weaves together elements of Ugandan folklore and contemporary feminism.

 This second novel from the acclaimed author is a captivating and thought-provoking read that resonates long after the final page.

Makumbi's storytelling prowess is on full display as she takes readers on a journey through the life of Kirabo, a young girl navigating the complexities of identity, love, and societal expectations. 

Set against the backdrop of Uganda in the 1970s, the novel explores themes of gender, power, and the search for self-discovery.

One of the most striking aspects of the book is Makumbi's skillful incorporation of Ugandan folklore. Through vivid and mesmerizing storytelling, she brings to life mythical tales and traditions that add depth and richness to the narrative. 

These folklore elements serve as a powerful metaphor for the challenges faced by women in a patriarchal society, highlighting the importance of reclaiming one's own story and forging a path of independence.

Makumbi's exploration of feminism is equally compelling. She delves into the complexities of womanhood, examining the various roles and expectations imposed on women by society.

 Through Kirabo's journey, readers are invited to question and challenge these norms, ultimately celebrating the strength and resilience of women.

The prose in "The First Woman" is both lyrical and evocative, painting vivid images of the Ugandan landscape and immersing readers in the vibrant culture. Makumbi's writing is a true delight, effortlessly transporting readers into the heart of the story.

While the novel tackles weighty themes, it is also a deeply personal and intimate tale. Makumbi delves into the intricacies of family dynamics, love, and the search for belonging. 

The characters are well-developed and relatable, each with their own struggles and desires.

"The First Woman" is a triumph of storytelling, blending folklore and feminism into a mesmerizing narrative that leaves a lasting impact.

 Jennifer Makumbi's masterful storytelling and profound insights make this novel a must-read for anyone seeking a compelling and thought-provoking exploration of identity, power, and the resilience of the human spirit.

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Madonna: A Rebel Life - The book which has the world talking

The title of this book suggests something comprehensive: it is eight hundred and eighty pages.

Light on author interviews and other new source material, the biography is a towering work of assemblage, a guided tour through the origins and the creative life of ‘the enigma called Madonna,’ with a view to solidifying her status as a leading artist of her time. 

That there exists some doubt about this forms a subtext of the book, which, like any biography, proposes a fragile patchwork of contracts with the reader in the name of mastering its subject and fulfilling its brief … Gabriel, a former Reuters editor, organizes the chapters by dateline, taking an almanac-like approach, the idea being, more or less, that a thorough record of Madonna’s accomplishments will speak for itself.

 The result succeeds on the strength of that record and on the fine-toothed diligence with which Gabriel, who has claimed that she set out with no particular knowledge of or attachment to Madonna, combs through it. The tone is one of admiring dispassion, the approach at times discreet to the point of inertia.

 Readers hungry for original takes, fresh intel, or freewheeling analysis will remain so. Gabriel avoids risk and complication as fervently as Madonna has sought them out, spinning modest threads of historical, political, and cultural context that are never less than perfectly apt and rarely anything more.

Though Gabriel emphasizes the relationships that have helped midwife Madonna’s work, she fails to make them intelligible: we get no sense of the artist’s grind, her habits and challenges as a songwriter, singer, producer, dancer, or director; or of how her vision and her ear have prevailed, in a decades-long evolution, through countless co-productions and genre dalliances.

 Old press-tour quotes on this subject are as illuminating as you might expect … More than her talent or her cunning, Madonna’s success reflects a public’s ambivalence about those freedoms we cherish, even as they frighten, bewilder, and enthrall us. 

Her story is that of an artist committed to remaking certain old ideals: beauty, sovereignty, connection, grit. It also tells of how starved we were, and still are, for their pure embodiment.”

–Michelle Orange on Mary Gabriel’s Madonna: A Rebel Life (The New Yorker)

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South African Diver Zandile Ndhlovu Publishes Children's Book About Mermaids and Oceanic Lessons

South African diver Zandile Ndhlovu is publishing her debut children’ book titled Zandi’s Song in spring 2024. Illustrated by Katlego Keokgale, the book explores the story of a girl who longs of the ocean despite not knowing how to swim and will published by Amazon Crossing Kids.

According to Publisher’s Synopsis, the book focuses on a girl who “dreams of the big blue ocean and bright colorful fish even though she lives far away from the sea and hasn’t learned to swim.” One day, the sea gives her a life-changing gift: “a story about our connection to the natural world, following your dreams, and caring for the environment.”

Zandi’s Song is inspired by the author’s own story of discovering the depths of the ocean. Zandile Ndhlovu is South Africa’s first Black female free diving instructor. At the age of 28, she first looked beneath the surface of the ocean and felt at home. So, she decided to help make the seas more accessible and diverse. 

Ndhlovu set up the Black Mermaid Foundation, which works to create diverse representation in ocean spaces—in sports, in careers, and recreationally. In 2022 she was named one of the Global Top 100 Most Influential People of African Descent.

READ THE SYNOPSIS: 

Zandi is a girl on a mission: to bring a message of conservation to the world.
Zandi was always thinking and dreaming about the ocean. Then, one special day, the ocean calls for her. Zandi tentatively approaches the water—and that’s when her adventure begins! She soon finds herself transformed into a mermaid and on an unforgettable underwater journey, where she hears the song of the ocean.
But there is something threatening this magical world. Is the key to protecting it buried in stories from the past? Join Zandi in her mission to protect our beloved oceans, in this inspiring story written by South Africa’s first Black female free diving instructor.

The book will be released on March 26, 2024.

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Booker Prize shortlist has two debut novels

The six titles shortlisted for the prestigious Booker Prize were announced on Thursday.

First awarded in 1969, the Booker Prize is regarded as the leading award for high-quality literary fiction written in English.

This year marks a first for all six scribes who made the shortlist, which features two debut novels, Chetna Maroo's Western Lane and Jonathan Escoffery's If I Survive You. 

The shortlisted titles are: 

Study for Obedience by Sarah Bernstein

If I Survive You by Jonathan Escoffery 

This Other Eden by Paul Harding

Prophet Song by Paul Lynch 

Western Lane by Chetna Maroo 

The Bee Sting by Paul Murray

The winner will be announced at a prize ceremony in London at Old Billingsgate on November 26.

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BOOK REVIEW: Edge of Here: Stories from Near to Now by Kelechi Okafor

Publisher: Trapeze
Date: September 14, 2023
Genre: Fiction
Language:  English
Where to find it: Waterstones, Amazon.

Kelechi Okafor

Kelechi Okafor is a writer, presenter, actor and tour de force in challenging how we think about race and femininity in tandem, and is a regular media contributor. Her podcast “Say Your Mind” is centered around the reclaiming of self through an unflinching observation of society. 

Kelechi is also published in the illustrious anthology, It’s Not OK To Feel Blue edited by Scarlett Curtis, and her short story is included in the Who’s Loving You anthology, published by Orion Books in 2021.

Book Review

Edge of Here Stories from Near to Now by Kelechi Okafor

Enter a world very close to our own… One in which technology can allow you to explore an alternate love-life with a stranger. 

A world where you can experience the emotions of another person through a chip implanted in your brain. And one where you can view snippets of a distant relative’s life with a little help from your DNA.

But remember: these experiences will not be without consequences . . . In this stunning debut collection, Kelechi Okafor combines the ancient and the ultramodern to explore tales of contemporary Black womanhood, asking questions about the way we live now and offering a glimpse into our near future. 

Uplifting, thought-provoking, sometimes chilling, these are tales rooted in the recognisable, but not limited by the boundaries of our current reality-where truth can meet imagination and spirituality in unexpected ways.

Allow yourself to be taken on a journey into worlds that are blazing with possibility, through stories that will lead you right up to the Edge of Here . . .

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Damon Galgut’s Booker Prize-winning novel comes to the stage

Rehearsals are in full swing and the countdown is on to the world premiere of the stage adaptation of Damon Galgut’s Booker Prize-winning novel, The Promise.

Club Dezza Productions and The Market Theatre present The Promise — on Stage which will have its world première from September 16 to October 6 at The Star Theatre at the Homecoming Centre in Cape Town (formerly The Fugard Theatre).

The production will transfer to The Market Theatre on The John Kani stage from October 18 to November 5. Bookings for both cities are open via Webtickets.

Featuring a star-studded South African cast and creative team, the production is written by Galgut and directed by internationally acclaimed, multiple award-winning director Sylvaine Strike.

“The rehearsal process for bringing this exceptional novel to the stage has been a profound and electrifying journey,” said Strike.

“We are developing the theatre language for the piece, while the costumes and sound design are springing magically to life under the genius of Penny Simpson and Charl-Johan Lingenfelder respectively. It has been a gift to work with Josh Lindberg’s exceptional set from day one, which, without giving too much away, does not have a single flat surface. A true playground for us all creating the landscape of The Promise – on Stage.”

“We have been reflecting on ourselves as South Africans, with the recent events in our country highlighting how disparate our daily experiences are. It serves as a sharp reminder that the themes of The Promise remain absolutely relevant, and how vital it is to have continued conversations around these realities.”

The stellar cast line-up is Rob van Vuuren (Curse of the Starving Class, Endgame) as Anton Swart; Kate Normington (Tali’s Baby Diaries, Storm in a B-Cup) as Rachel Swart; Frank Opperman (Ouboet and Wors, Toutjies en Ferreira) as Manie Swart; Chuma Sopotela (Standard Bank Young Artist, Karoo Moose) as Salome; Cintaine Schutte (Die Seemeeu, Fynskrif, Tien Duisend Ton) as Tannie Marina; Jenny Stead (The Glass Menagerie, Elesin Oba) as Astrid Swart; Albert Pretorius (Die Seemeeu, Nêrens, Noord-Kaap, Tien Duisend Ton) as Dominee Simmers; Sanda Shandu (Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf?, The Unlikely Secret Agent) as Lukas, and Jane de Wet (Spoorloos, The Watch) as Amor Swart.

The dream creative team is completed with sound design and original music composition by Lingenfelder (King Kong), set and lighting design by Lindberg (Birdy), costume design by Simpson (The Producers) and choreography by Natalie Fisher (Free Flight Dance Company).

Galgut was awarded the prestigious Booker Prize for The Promise in 2021. It is only the third time a South African writer has been given that honour.

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An emotional book about how the world crumbled for a former Miss South Africa semi finalist

PRISON CHILD – FELICIA GOOSEN, THE STORY OF VANESSA GOOSEN'S DAUGHTER

Most people will remember the story of the former Miss South Africa semi-finalist Vanessa Goosen who was incarcerated in Lard Yao women’s prison in Bangkok in 1994 for more than 16 years.

The young woman claimed to have been duped into carrying four engineering books, which were found to have compartments in the front and back hardcover and spine containing 1.7kg of heroin.

Aged 21 and pregnant, she was arrested and tried on drug trafficking charges. She was sentenced to death, but her sentence was commuted to life.

Through two appeals – one of which was rejected – and a process of amnesty from the king of Thailand, Goosen eventually was released on October 30, 2010. 

A first book, Drug Muled: Sixteen Years in a Thai Prison, penned by Joanne Joseph with Larissa Focke, traced her years in prison and her brief period of motherhood before her daughter Felicia was taken away from her at the age of 3 and sent to South Africa.

Now comes the book Prison Child Felicia Goosen – The story of Vanessa's Goosen’s daughter.

In South Africa, Felicia, now aged 28, was raised by her mother’s best friend Melanie Holmes and her husband Hilton Homes. 

Their daughter, Lerell (Lala), and her were the same age and her adoptive parents treated her like one of their own.

But when her adoptive mother died and Vanessa was released from prison, things went awry. Felicia’s own life went downwards, spiralling out of control – through acoholism and self-hating.

But with the help of friends and religion she picked herself up and this is her story, emotional yet uplifting as she charts her path to healing. It’s an easy read despite the difficulties Felicia describes, and in it readers will find many messages of hope.

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Book Review - Suggest Paradise

Suggest Paradise by Ray Gonzalez
University of New Mexico Press, February 2023

Born and raised in El Paso, Texas, Ray Gonzalez returns to Texas and nearby New Mexico to meditate on love, literature, loss, and la línea in Suggest Paradise. 

The collection offers readers some of the richest and most complex poems that embody the Southwest and the borderlands, including a poignant look at the massacre at the El Paso Walmart. 

A unique voice of the Southwest, Gonzalez brings his intellect and his well-honed craft to this work and offers readers a nuanced and powerful perspective on poetry and the Border.

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South African readers intrigued by Prince Harry's book "Spare" as pre orders pile up

The British royal drama has been laid bare in Prince Harry’s memoir, Spare, which broke sales records, selling millions during its first week on the shelves. However, once the secrets are known and there’s nothing left to read about, sales could drop.

According to The Guardian, the book’s title comes from an old saying in royal and aristocratic circles, that the first son is an heir to titles, power and fortune and a second, Harry, was therefore a spare, should anything happen to the first-born.

The book details the prince’s anger towards his royal family and the trauma he has lived with for 25 years following the death of his mother, Princess Diana.

He has accused his family of leaking stories about himself and his wife to the UK media. Among many other royal secrets, the prince also details his struggle with drugs, including cocaine, marijuana and magic mushrooms.

But it was the revelation of killing 25 Taliban fighters in leaked manuscripts that got Harry into hot water.

He allegedly called those he killed “chess pieces taken off the board”.

However, he has defended himself, saying his words were taken out of context and that the claims were a “dangerous lie”.

Emeritus Professor in History Studies at the University of Kwazulunatal, Donal Mccracken, said by convention kings and queens do not go public when attacked.

 Therefore, a one-sided melodrama was being presented to the world. Nevertheless, most of the British press was fighting a proxy war on behalf of King Charles III.

Mccracken added that there were two main factors in the Harry versus King Charles and Prince William saga.

The first was Harry losing his allowances as a working British royal, and the millions of dollars he was set to make by going public with his views on behind-the-scenes shenanigans mixed up with family “tittle-tattle”.

“The second factor, strongly linked to the money element, is the advent of instant and rapid mass media and communication.

“This has exported the soap drama to a world audience,” he said.

“Possibly, as with such royal disputes in previous centuries, the natural order of the British establishment will reassert itself and we shall witness something of an armed truce, with an exiled court in glamorous California, a battered but revived stoic and slimmed-down monarch in Britain and a media vindicated in that it had already speculated on much which has now gone public.”

Since its release, the memoir has taken a top 10 spot on the best-seller list at Exclusive Books.

Batya Bricker of Exclusive Books said the Harry and Meghan Netflix documentary and the international hype around the book have undoubtedly contributed to South African interest.

The book was under strict embargo at bookstores until Tuesday, but a delay in delivery from the UK resulted in local deliveries being a few days late.

“We had more pre-orders for this book than any other. We were expecting there to be great demand. It’s also all over social media networks and that always has an influence on the popularity of a title,” she said.

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Young writer wins publishing deal

For the young authors who won a publishing deal with the Charmza Literacy Club in Knysna, 2023 has presented itself as the year of opportunities.

Charmza, in collaboration with the Knysna municipality, hosted the Emerging Writers Workshop on November 4-5 at the Masifunde Library.

The workshop was offered to up-and-coming writers to experience a curriculum designed to develop and support their imaginative writing across different literary genres.

According to Charmaine Mrwebi, founder of the Charmza Literacy Club, the publishing opportunity was meant to be awarded to only one person but because of the amount of talent, three writers were chosen.

After writing her first book in 2008 and struggling to publish it, Mrwebi saw an opportunity to create a room for upand-coming authors where they would be assisted with not only publishing, but selling their books as well.

“I saw a need to start a foundation that will create a room for writers. When I started this foundation, the aim was to help up-and-coming first-time authors.

“I was inspired by the amount of talent in Knysna and decided this should be a permanent partnership,” Mrwebi said.

Phelelani Best, 21, one of the winning authors, said she was excited to start the year on a positive note.

“I once gave up on writing because no-one believed in me or motivated me,” Best said.

“But I chose to stand by my dreams and because of that I was rewarded with a writing opportunity.”

Best said she had seen the post on the Knysna municipality Facebook page about entering a writing competition and leapt at the opportunity.

She already had a manuscript called “Pain Changed Me”.

She then attended the three-day course, where she learnt about poetry, scriptwriting and storytelling.

She was then selected alongside two other equally talented authors, Zukhanye Lama and Siyamamnkela Yalolo, to publish their books with the help of Charmza.

The aim is have the scripts of the young authors published in June.

Zukhanye, a grade 10 pupil at Concordia High School, said he was glad he had taken the opportunity as he had now been introduced to other writers in the town.
“Now I have people to share ideas with,” he said.

“They inspire me with their stories and we keep each other motivated.”

He hopes to grow his craft and that it will be enough to sustain him financially when he is older.

Mrwebi advised people wanting to become writers to join their local libraries.

“Reading will help you to learn about how writing works, so attend book events and start writing,” she said.

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Inspiring book by 12-year-old author

Spurred by her love of reading and writing, Tailei Richards has managed to achieve one of her biggest goals at the young age of 12 – to become a published author.

Tailei, who is in Grade 5 at Lilyfontein Primary School, recently published her book called Finding Home, which tells the story of an orphan named Lila who has her mind set on finding her family.

When things get tough at the orphanage, Lila’s faith is tested and she must rely on God to calm the worries in her heart.

“When I was in Grade 4 my teacher discovered that I had a gift for writing.

“My classmates started giving me ideas for short stories that my teacher would read to us all once I had written them.

“One of these ideas was ‘A story of an orphan’. That is how Lila, the orphan in my book, came to be. I got so involved in this particular story that before I knew it, I had written much more than a short story.

“Before we knew it the idea of turning my story into a book was born,” said Tailei.

With the help of her grandmother, who taught her some skills in digital art, Richards was able to create the illustrations for the book herself.

Tailei said Karen Kingsbury was among her favourite authors.

But her biggest support system throughout her journey had been her teacher and her family.

“I got a lot of encouragement to keep writing from my Grade 4 teacher. My parents and siblings also supported me and helped edit it along the way.

“I want people to be inspired by my book. I want them to know that anything is possible with God and that he cares more than anyone and that because of him there is hope in Jesus,” said Tailei.

Publishing Finding Home signified the beginning of a long journey for her as an author, she said.

“My goal is to publish and write as many books as possible in the future,” Tailei said.

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Young author releases a book that has a deep Xhosa perspective

A young Eastern Cape author has written a book aimed at anyone who wants to know more about the Xhosa culture and traditions, aptly named Don’t Upset ooMalume! A Guide to Stepping Up Your Xhosa Game.

Hombakazi Mercy Nqandeka said the guide to Xhosa culture with stories from daily rural life in the villages of Mqele and Bulungula, and lessons taught by her mother and grandmothers, hoped to help reconnect Xhosa people to their roots.

The “ooMalume” title refers to the crusty old uncle, or “malume”, who will wag his finger at disrespectful youngsters from the city who have lost touch with their roots and cultural identity.

The author, 33, is an agriculturalist by profession who started writing at high school, but only started to take it seriously at university.

“I went to study abroad in Ireland and France, and being away from home made me write a lot,” she said.

The book was written in English and isiXhosa, with every topic covered in both languages for good reason, Nqandeka said.

“It is not just a book for amaXhosa but for everybody who’s interested in learning about the Xhosa culture.

“I wrote everything in English first ,and then I translated it into Xhosa and it’s in accessible language.

“There are amaXhosa who have grown up in the cities also who don’t know the traditions and history, but it would be very limiting if it was only in Xhosa.”

And, yes, there is a special uncle in her own family, from whom she has learnt a lot.

“He’s the main figure we have at home because my father passed on when we were very young.

“I am also glad that people are now realising the importance of recording things and not only having an oral history.”

Nqandeka has a double master’s degree in agriculture, climate change and transition from the National University of Ireland and the University of Montpellier SupAgro in France.

When she returned from her studies, she did not find work immediately.

She moved home to live with her mother at the end of 2019, and then spent much of the next year in Mqele, in the northeast Eastern Cape.

“I started taking pictures of food, clothes, beads, nature and wrote stories of what they meant, and their significance.

“It just came out of me trying to find something to light up my days because there was nothing, and I was trying to figure out life.”

In doing so, she created a community of people on social media who wanted to learn more about her culture.

Then, as the posts grew increasingly popular, she had the idea to turn them into a book.

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Book Extract | Patrice Motsepe - On a mission to create hope and aspiration

The business aspect of Patrice Motsepe’s life is the golden thread. He grins when he talks about the "family enterprises – they made me what I am".

Involved in rebuilding the old shopping centre that the Motsepes once owned and ran in his home village of Mmakau in North West, he reflects on the people there who "always have the passion to try and make a difference".

"We have to create circumstances of hope and aspiration. I have been so privileged, immensely privileged. My father taught me that I should never stop working."

He goes back to those childhood pictures.
"You know, I once came home from boarding school – I think I was seven or eight – and I said to 'Daddy, the children at school, most of my friends, get taken on holiday'."

The Motsepe children had never been on holiday – when the other kids got the weekends off, the Motsepes were "standing behind the counter".

His father occupies "a very big space", Motsepe says, and it’s an opinion echoed by many leaders of the previous generation who hold ABC (ABC Motsepe football League) in the highest esteem. 

An example is former president Kgalema Motlanthe, who has spoken about the impact ABC had on him as an educator and an entrepreneur who never gave up.
"I had a beautiful unfair advantage," says Motsepe, "because, I’ll tell you, [my father] taught me things at a young age that [matter, such as] always be part of the community. At times my school fees weren’t paid and [yet he] would pay the fees of the students in the community. It was everything to him that people were educated."

It’s a tradition Motsepe has carried on in his own life, with the Motsepe Foundation paying for thousands of students to attend university.

"When you are young, you don’t understand it, and you [could] go through life and believe it’s all about yourself. But you realise that’s not correct, and you grow. If your community and your country doesn’t grow, you’re also retreating.

"It’s so wonderful to listen [to other people]. We get inspired as well as people getting inspired by us. There’s so many good people who say they will not give up on their country, and have that very real objective to build."

Motsepe sees SA as a pivot on the continent. This is not so much a default as his unwavering belief. He doesn’t despise people who emigrate, but he’s confused about their inability to see the "gifts" so evident in the country.

"[We have] to tell each other, this is not like any other country in Africa. We’ve got a real possibility at the moment to bring about generational multicultural and multilingual change, and these are in fact large things, but because they are somehow so difficult to put across, they [can feel like] small things."

Enlivened by this will to "South Africanise", Motsepe opens this out to the role the country has to play in the race against the climate crisis. "Bill Gates calls me and says, 'Listen, we’re putting this Breakthrough Energy [grouping] together', and before he knows it, [ I told him] 'I’m going to the COP21 in Paris', That buzzed his brain into all kinds of new arenas."

Gates, who drew Motsepe in as one of the world’s 28 high net worth individuals to be part of the initiative, identified Motsepe as an ally in the global south early on. Motsepe and his wife Precious Moloi-Motsepe were by that time already part of the billionaire’s Giving Pledge.

For that, says Motsepe, Gates called him and said, ‘We want a few families that will commit on a philanthropic basis,’ and since the Motsepe Foundation was already active, with the couple’s mindset tuned to contribute, Motsepe could agree to it immediately.

He often pays tribute to the everyday people who routinely deliver for their families and communities, against the odds, as compared to the macro-scope of being a signatory to the Giving Pledge.

"My message is, it doesn’t matter. The way that I actually see it, it doesn’t matter even if I give $100m, there’s an old lady who’s got a grant, she’s got R1,300 every month, and she gives some of her grants to her grandchildren or others, and because she does that for some time, she can’t even pay for meat, she can’t pay for vegetables. So those are the real heroes, because she makes a sacrifice. I give a big amount, but I’m still fine. My wife and children are still okay, you know. So those are the heroes we should celebrate."

Surprisingly, he seems star-struck when he talks about working closely with Leonardo DiCaprio and Matt Damon in their ecological endeavours. The three men met in the 2010s. Motsepe and Damon – whose focus is on water – were on the same programme at the Philanthropic Roundtable of the Victor Pinchuk Foundation in Davos in 2014.

"When it comes to Leonardo, initially I thought that’s [just] Hollywood, but I was so impressed," he says, pointing out that DiCaprio has recently drawn attention to the critically endangered mountain gorillas in Rwanda. The Oscar winner also supports the Virunga National Park in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, which is facing unprecedented threats.

He talks about the "incredible experience" of seeing the gorillas, then adds, "But that is about wildlife, and [we’re also learning about how to get involved in protecting] life in the oceans, which is a good part of what they do."

The spotlight on the environmental damage from Motsepe’s mines will be unrelenting as he gains an increasingly larger space in energy provision in the future. He says he’s trying to face that head-on because "mines and many other industries [are big polluters]".

"Making sure that [we] know this target of [limiting warming to] 1.5°C must be at the heart’ of business," he says. "High standards should be set from the moment a business plan is drafted."

It’s encouraging that there are now "so many initiatives" to claw the planet back to sustain human life. But to Motsepe’s mind, "the ones that are doing the incredible work" can be found at the World Economic Forum.

He believes he benefits from being "part of that process", where the attention is on climate change and "how they are going to contribute" to maintaining standards around emissions.

It’s centred on excellence – the summit being the same for all, "to make the world a better place".

His thoughts turn to other billionaires who he believes are also giving this their best shot – like Johann Rupert, because "he’s with the heart and soul of Africa". 

He won’t hear a bad word about Rupert. He even tilts his hat at Rupert’s father, Anton Rupert, despite the mangle of arguments against them.

 This extract is from the new book Patrice Motsepe:  An Appetite for Disruption by Janet Smith and Jonathan Ball Publishers.

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Young author celebrates African names in a new book

There is power in an individual’s name, which gives purpose and calls for respect.
This is how the tale of a schoolchild named Isenguye plays out.

Isenguye is the main protagonist in the fictional book titled ‘My BIG name’, a book that describes her journey to understanding the beauty, meaning, and power of her first name. 

The book was written by 21-year-old entrepreneur and activist Amonge Sinxoto, with illustrator Lebogang Sekwelenkwe providing the artwork.

The story tells of how Isenguye learns of her superpowers, accessible through her name because it gives her (and her school friends) a sense of self, power, and pride against the main antagonist in the tale. 

Sinxoto said that ‘My BIG name’ would feel relatable to Africans who have had their names and surnames mispronounced in their own experiences.

“When I was thinking about writing a children’s book, the topic just made sense. Especially on the issues that the book discusses, around the power that lies within your name and consequently your African identity,” Sinxoto said.

In writing the book, she mainly focused on primary school children (aged 7-11) who grow up to understand the meaning of their names while attending school.

Sinxoto said that the book was a unique project for her to complete because of how Isenguye’s story mirrored the experience of Sinxoto’s younger sister — who the main character is named after.

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Durban primary school teacher launches tell-all book about her abusive husband

A Durban primary school teacher who survived abuse and attempted murder by her husband has penned a book about her ordeal.

Nkosingiphile Happiness Nxumalo, a mother of three from KwaNongoma, in her book titled Ngiyokhohlwa ngifile (I will never forget) details how she suffered at the hands of her husband, who committed suicide after thinking he had killed her in 2019.

Nxumalo’s book was launched over the weekend at the eThekwini municipal library.

She said her husband hacked her on the head and back with a machete in their home until he thought she was dead and then took a rope and hanged himself.

The incident left her right side paralysed. Nxumalo said she had to go through intensive therapy to heal.

“My husband was that person who controlled me. He would tell me that I needed to be home at a certain time. He chose my friends and family members that I could speak to.

“Sometimes, he would randomly check my cellphone just to see who I am talking to and my messages. He would beat me up whenever he felt like it and tell me how much he loved me and that I should never tell anyone about what is going on in our marriage because it was between us as a couple, and that was my biggest mistake. He told me that I would leave the marriage in a coffin,” she said.

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Author gives hope to survivors through new book

From once begging on the streets, to packing groceries at a supermarket and later moving on to become a receptionist and then legal secretary, Gelvandale author Schamelle Rulf has done it all.

Rulf even started a tough journey of entrepreneurship in the midst of the Covid-19 pandemic and started her own bakery.
Her career journey alone is an inspiring story to tell, yet it is not her only story.

The mother of three shares her story of surviving abuse at the hands of her late exhusband, in her book, I AM, and offers hope of healing and thriving to other abuse survivors.

The book is Rulf’s story of reclaiming her power and dignity, falling in love with herself and living her life to the fullest.

When she started writing the book in 2016, Rulf’s aim was to share the story of her strained relationship with her mother.

However, after the death of her ex-husband and alleged abuser two years ago, Rulf once again picked up her pen and continued her story.

Rulf said she met her exhusband when she was 22 and married him after only six months.

Though he started physically abusing her two weeks before their wedding, she was backed into a corner to go ahead with the wedding, she said.

“Two weeks before our wedding, he came home with a love bite. I told him I wasn’t going to marry a cheater and cancelled the wedding but I eventually went ahead with it because he threatened to hurt his mother whom I loved dearly.

“I felt I had no choice but to marry him because I would rather take the abuse than watch him hurt his frail mother.

“My wedding day was such a sad and gloomy day for me. The abuse only worsened from there,” Rulf said.

The author stayed in the marriage for six years before they called it quits.

She said people around them knew she was being physically abused because she often had bruises on her face, but she never spoke about it.

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