Born and raised in Kwa-Thema, Suke Dudu Xaba is organising the Gauteng Book Festival on December 14.
“My parents divorced when I was about seven years old. My mom, big sister, and I packed up our lives and moved from our home in Rest in Peace to live with my aunt, her husband, and their eight children in a small four-room house in Deep Levels.
“Moving to Deep Levels felt like being tossed into a stormy sea. Being the youngest in a house was overwhelming. I began to feel lost and confused.
“In that crowded home, a narrow space between my aunt’s bed and the wardrobe became my little corner of the world,” she explained.
Xaba used writing to piece together the puzzles of her life, writing letters to her biological father, whom she missed dearly.
“I also wrote to God, pleading for answers – why couldn’t I go back home, and why was talking about my father forbidden?” she added.
Her educational journey started at Mzomsha Lower Primary School and was completed at Kenneth Masekela Secondary School.
“My talent for the arts didn’t stay hidden for long. It was my late teacher, Mzwakhe Sibiya, who spotted it. He honed my public speaking skills to perfection, inspiring me to recite poems during school assemblies.
“As the saying goes, ‘the pen is mightier than the sword,’ and in those moments, words became my weapon, helping me find my voice in a world that often left me speechless.
“Today, I split my time between the Western Cape and Gauteng. I wear many hats: a TVET College lecturer, an author, a ghostwriter, and a publisher.”
Xaba self-published her first biography, Twelve Memorial Stones of My Walk with God.
ALSO READ: New SETA committee tackles scholar transport safety issues
“Once I embraced my writing gift and saw my first book in print, I decided to expand my horizons and ventured into ghostwriting. My true strength lies in creative non-fiction, and I’ve ghostwritten three biographies so far.
“Now I’m ready to soar even higher. That’s the reason I am eager to host an annual book festival in Gauteng,” she explained.
Xaba said that before 1994, access to information was tightly controlled, with the apartheid government reserving it for the privileged few.
In addition to facing restrictions, black writers never had freedom of expression.
“The black majority faced heavy censorship of books, news, and literature. Take, for example, Steven Bantu Biko’s powerful work, I Write What I Like.
ALSO READ: Embrace the twists and turns of your learning journey: Becoming an attorney
“Despite being written in 1972, the apartheid regime prevented its publication. It wasn’t until 1978 that it finally saw the light of day, but even then, many black readers couldn’t get their hands on it.
“Through research, I also discovered that a manuscript by Mr Selope Thema, after whom our township is named, never made it to the publishers,” she said.
Xaba noted that even in this day and age writers still face many challenges.
“In response to these challenges, we are committed to addressing them by creating a physical platform where authors, both young and old, can present their work and promote reading, particularly among South African youth,” she added.
Her latest book Rape! She Cried tells the story of her life, but woven into it is the rich history of our country, especially Kwa-Thema.
“Our township is home to many unsung heroes of the struggle, and I’ve managed to wrap the most difficult chapters of my life within the history of our beautiful community.
“I had the opportunity to pay tribute to individuals such as Eudy Simelane, the victims of Operation Zero Zero, Mzitho Ngubeni, Bushy Stofela and other deserving individuals through my writing.
“Above all, I wrote to honour my two best friends, one of them being Vuyiswa Plaatjie, who lost her life during the Kwa-Thema riots on October 2, 1984. In the end, I wrote to share my truth with the world and, in doing so, find my healing.
“As the saying goes, ‘the truth shall set you free,’ and for me, writing this book has been my path to freedom,” she concluded.
The Gauteng Book Festival will take place at Ebotse Country and Golf Estate.
Authors who are interested in showcasing their books at the event can contact Fani Buda on 071 883 1775 or Rethabile Mofitiso on 063 550 8377.
At Caxton, we employ humans to generate daily fresh news, not AI intervention. Happy reading!
Stay in the know. Download the Caxton Local News Network App here.