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Lebogane Tackles Polygamy

The death of Hlamalani, the third wife of the wealthy Daniel Mathebula, seems to have cast a dark cloud over the Mathebula household. Within three months, two more deaths rock the family, and the third son is lying on a hospital bed, terribly sick.

It seems Daniel’s wealth – cattle dotting the countryside as far as the eye can see – is the source and catalyst of the family’s suffering.

But Daniel’s first wife Francine, and her son Franz, are utterly unfazed by the tragedy befalling the family. The deaths are after all in Hlamalani’s side of the homestead. In fact, Franz is determined to benefit from the tragedy, when he demands to move into his late brother Nhlamulo‘s house and take his widow as his wife. In a fit of rage, Daniel banishes him, inadvertently sparking a feud between Blood Brothers, the late Hlamalani’s son Nyiko, and Francine’s son Franz.

This is the setting of Lebogane Mhlongo’s novel, Blood Brothers: The Hatred, which has recently been released. Set in the deeply rural part of Tzaneen, the book is partly based on real-life events, derived from Lebogane’s experiences growing up in a polygamous family. The book tackles tshengo, polygamy, as well as the generational hatred it often breeds amongst the wives and children if not managed properly by the head of the household.

“Writing the book was partly therapy for me,” she said. “I also wanted to give a personal perspective on what really happens in polygamous marriages, how it affects the wives as well as siblings from various households who are half brothers and sisters. While the world might admire the man with many wives and his wealth, not everyone thinks about these women and their children, who are born of this set-up. No one ever thinks about the deep-seated hatred, jealousy and the entitlement some siblings might have because they are born of nsati loNkulu, the first wife.”

In the book, the wealthy Daniel later dies mysterious. The feud between brothers spirals out of control, with Nyiko suffering one mystifying mishap after another at work, in his personal life and in his marriage. Nyiko then opts to give up his birthright to the inheritance, and relocates to Jo’burg to start a new life. But Franz, despite having inherited all their father’s wealth, is still feeling threatened by Nyiko and his siblings, who have also decided not to challenge him for the estate. He will not rest until Nyiko and his siblings are dead.

Soon, Franz has squandered all his father’s wealth in cattle and properties, and together with his mother, the first wife Francine, now decides to target his brothers one by one, so he could inherit what they have worked long and hard for all their lives.

Lebogane published the book early in 2022 but had to request PUBLISH’D AFRIKA to revise it, due to glaring grammatical errors and flaws in the storyline that were neglected by her previous publisher. The revised edition was released early this year. It also tackles themes such as witchcraft, infidelity, greed and envy. It is a riveting work of fiction based partly on real-life events.

“I believe the book will resonate with many people as it taps into the often tacit and murky side of polygamy, and the generational hatred it breeds amongst wives and siblings,” said Lebogane.

The book is currently available directly from the author. You can reach Lebogane at 063 971 5182.

Single In God: A Journey Inspired By Life

Single In God is a journey inspired by the ups and downs of life, looking to be loved and to feel whole. After being left broken-hearted and going through a series of bad relationships, the road has led to this question: “Who am I and why am I here?”

Get ready to be taken on a journey of self-discovery, finding answers to one’s identity and purpose. Who is God in our lives and what connects us to Him? Why do we go through what we go through? Learn to have good relationships and finally be able to have a well-balanced lifestyle. As a single woman and mother, the author believes in being the best version of yourself by being single and whole before you commit to others.

About The Author

Michelle M is a South African author who wrote the book Removing The Mask, which opened doors and exposed her to the world of motivational speaking and teaching. Michelle is no stranger to the entertainment scene as she’s been behind the microphone as a radio personality. She believes in being the change you want to see and does so by not only teaching the Word but also walking in footsteps of her Saviour Jesus Christ. Her writing is based on the teachings of the Bible and her strong belief in Jesus Christ, The Father God and the Holy Spirit.

Single In God, published through PUBLISH’D AFRIKA, is her second book.

THE DEMON’S WIFE by Nompilo Gumede

Mahlori Mathebula came to Durban with one goal in mind: to further her studies and return home to Limpopo to rescue her family from the grip of poverty. But then she discovers the finer things in life, which only money can buy. With newly found friends who have been in the ‘Soft-Life’ game for years, it isn’t long before she too is bedding rich, older men and securing the bag.

She soon becomes a second wife to the wealthy, older Muzi Sibiya. The ink isn’t even dry on her marriage certificate when she discovers that living on the lap of luxury comes at a price, and that all that glitters isn’t gold.

 Muzi and his wife Ntombi have already pledged her soul to Arazyal, the demon that is the source of Muzi’s wealth. She is trapped by a blood covenant she made with her husband and sister wife – a union that can only be broken by death.

The stakes get even higher when Mahlori discovers that she is pregnant with a child that is meant to be a blood sacrifice to Arazyal. A supernatural battle ensues and plunges the world into an apocalypse. Only Mahlori can save the world but she does not know how. After all, she is just a slay queen who never believed in anything until hell came to her doorstep.

Nompilo Khayelihle Gumede is currently studying towards a Bachelor of Social Sciences majoring in Psychology and Sociology at the University of Free State.

“I penned The Demon’s Wife to educate society on the spiritual impact of money and luxury,” she said. “I also write to entertain, inspire, and break literary barriers in my country by binding the strands of fiction and reality.”

Resilience In Adversity

by Dr. Gladys Ke-Di-Bone Mokwena

The title “Resilience in Adversity” describes the most essential points of the book. From the beginning of her story, the author Dr Gladys Ke-Di-Bone Mokwena discusses hardship as bravery and offers her viewpoint on resilience from various perspectives. She relates hardships as a number of challenges in her life, including pursuing her high school education through a night school, widowhood at a young age, raising two children as well as experiencing an ordeal from assailants in her own home. She suffers from depression as a result, which she sees as a motivator to keep going and accomplish her life goals.

Dr Mokwena began her teaching career as a primary school teacher without a Senior Certificate and kept on studying until she obtained her PhD in 2018, at age 62. She is currently a lecturer at the University of South Africa’s Department of Adult Education and Community Development. The book seeks to inspire and motivate people to be resilient in the face of adversity. The book is a useful resource for individuals in formal and non-formal learning settings.

For educators, psychologists, agriculturists, historians and others, the book adds significantly to the body of knowledge. It’s incredible to see a constructive application of the 1956 women’s demonstration in South African culture extended to the author’s life as a tool for resilience. The take home lesson is summed up by the flow of a river that when challenges occur, you change your course to reach your goal.

I AM ALSO A WOMAN

Author: Zeripah Amoni Phiri

‘My father-in-law said I was a piece of furniture taking up space in his son’s house, and advised him to take a second wife’.

When no children became her permanent box to tick, definite grieving became a process that Zeripah Amoni Phiri had to go through. After finding out that she was born with no womb – making her one in 5000 the world over -Zeripah was left with questions which had no readily available answers. But she had to make a decision, a decision that would shape her for the rest of her life. She had to let go of the need to know why.

Having been raised on dreams of matrimonial bliss, topped by at least four siblings, these turned into daily nightmares without her knowing or understanding what would happen next. There is a unique pain that comes from preparing a place for a child that would never come. Zeripah has made a decision to embrace peace. A peaceful world that embraces it all.

Writing this book helped her to heal. He decided to get out of the proverbial closet to share her unique story. He has realised that there are people out there with this MRHK condition but are scared of sharing their story. Now known as Unique, a name she gave herself after finding out she didn’t have a womb and didn’t go on her monthly circles, she thought she was just a UNIQUE human being … 

MUSIC SAVED ME

Author: Nthabiseng Monageng

It is not easy having to look after seven siblings while you are also young and need looking after, particularly with life also piling up its fair share of distractions. But through prayer and music, Nthabiseng Monageng’s fighting spirit helped her to reign supreme against all odds, amongst them bouts of depression and a series of abusive relationships.

Music Saved Me tells the inspiring story of the 30-year-old teacher and club DJ from Rethabiseng, Bronkhorstspruit, who at a very young age lost both her parents and had to navigate her life and studies, while being a parent to her siblings. With life determined to knock her down, it was her love for music and faith in the Almighty that steered her to achieving her goals and reaching the top, in the process taking her family out of poverty. Her love for music helped her to fight – and to win – the battles life threw at her. 

A SCENT OF VICTORY

Author: Varshnee Joseph

‘Leave with a pulse, not in a coffin’

Jo was Hindu, and Jane was Christian, and they loved each other so much, they planned to tie the knot and live happily ever after.

But the marriage was doomed from the start. Jo’s family made it clear from the onset that they will never accept Jane as a daughter-in-law, while Jane’s family flatly refused to accept Jo unless he converted to Christianity.

Despite resistance from his family, Jo converts to Christianity and marries Jane. However, religious differences threaten to tear the very fabric of their union, paving the way for substance abuse, infidelity and physical and emotional abuse.

A Scent of Victory, a novel written by Varshnee Joseph, touches on the very nerve of the challenges romance across racial and religious lines bring to a marriage. The burden imposed by the couple’s own matrimonial squabbles not only threaten to shatter the marriage, but reveal a side neither had known about the other. While Jane and Jo are fictional characters, the challenges they go through hit too close to home, almost mirroring life.

“In the story, Jo begins to drink a lot, clearly as an escape from the two worlds he lives in and how he is struggling to cope in either,” says author Varshnee Joseph. “His mother is a matriarch of the family, who has made it clear that she would never accept Jane as a daughter-in-law, and has already primed Jo’s ex to take up the role as she is Hindu.”

Soon, Jo’s true colours begin to show – his infidelity, his violent temper, his poor money management skills, his inability to keep a job and how his family curbs his maturity by bailing him out of any self-imposed dilemma. Jane on the other hand is hiding the horrors of her marriage and the bruises sustained from constant brawls, projecting an image of a happy marriage to her family and to the world.

“She is so committed to the marriage and has hidden even the fact that Jo’s has been without a job for months,” said Varshnee. “Bruised physically and emotionally, she soldiers on for the sake of her marriage. She and Jo have been through a lot, and she just won’t give up on the marriage or on Jo, or it would all have been in vain. Despite the abuse, she also does not want to embarrass her family and to give Jo’s family a reason to celebrate.”

While writing the book, Varshnee had to borrow from her own life experiences and from her observations in the community she grew up in, where the religion of who you date and ultimately marry is almost always bound to ruffle feathers. She also had to touch on the elephant in the room – gender-based violence – and how Jane eventually takes her power back and becomes the woman she is destined to be.

“Women in abusive relationships have this Stockholm Syndrome kind of relationship with their partners,” she said. “They also stay in these relationships to please their families. With the book, I wanted to show women that it is better to leave while you still have a pulse, not in a coffin.”

THROUGH THE SILENT TSUNAMI

Author: Matumelo Ruth Mafoko

Through The Silent Tsunami is a riveting account of a lifelong journey of a recovering addict who battled drug and alcohol abuse most of her life.

Matumelo Mafoko shares her story of emotional, physical and spiritual turmoil throughout her life.  Explore the journey of the ups and downs of a courageous young girl who battled her way to adulthood under constant terrible personal dilemmas. This is the touching retelling about a woman talking about coping with sexual abuse, homosexuality and Christianity, rape, grievous bodily harm and loss.

Learn how a relentless Matumelo was able to survive as a productive drug addict and an alcoholic as a student, lesbian, gender and political activist who eventually found God.  She cried out and sought help on countless admissions at different rehabilitation centres without giving up.

She lives her life one day at a time under the spiritual guidance of the Higher Power.

Matumelo Ruth Mafoko’s leadership roles started in high school as secretary of the Student’s Representative Council from 1989 to 1991. She studied at University of the North in 1992, at PU vir CHO in 1993 and at the University of Western Cape in 2006. Over the years she has participated in public advocacy and publicity for the rights of the marginalised communities i.e. LGBTI Communities, gender based violence victims and recovering alcoholics and drug addicts.

Overcoming decades of prejudices and major life obstacles in her lifetime, her ‘Never Give Up’ attitude has committed her to reach out to individuals around issues relating to change, substance abuse, sexual orientation, leadership, emotional intelligence and personal growth.

Her goal is to leave her audience realising their own values, recognising their own unique gifts and talents and with the belief that they have the power to become the best that they can be. She is exploring other literature avenues including poetry, blogging and article writing.

She is currently the Director of Operations at Horizons Age PTY (Ltd) company based in Mahikeng, North West, as a Motivational Speaker and Motivator.

KEEPING THE BALL ROLLING

Author: Koketšo Makgalema Lennox Thobela

‘Sekhukhune’s Curse’

In December 1879, King Sekhukhune proclaimed that after him, no other chief would be able to stand up to Pretoria since they would all be its tools.

Sekhukhune was king of the Marota people, known today as Bapedi, who originated from the Bakgatla of the Western Transvaal. The Marota lived in the land between the Vaal and Limpopo rivers. His empire, built by military conquests, entering into diplomatic marriages and taking in refugees, saw the mighty kingdom being one of a few able to defend and resist the Boer and British attempts to nose in onto their territories – for over a century!

But after Sekhukhune’s death, Pretoria divided Sekhukhune land into small chieftaincies reporting to native commissioners, in the process destroying the empire and reducing its people to mere workers at the farms owned overnight by white farmers. Some took to hard labour in factories and mines.

One such remnant of the past is the Bokoni Platinum Mine, in Atok, Limpopo, and has operated in the platinum-rich area for over half a century. Owned by Atlatsa Resources (51%) and Anglo American Platinum (49%), the mine once employed more than 4500 people until it was placed under care and maintenance in 2017.

Care and maintenance” refers to the process of a mine being closed and production halted, but with the possibility of operations resuming at a later stage. This meant its entire workforce had to be laid off. According to the mine management at the time, the mine should have returned to full operation in December 2019. It has however transpired that the owners are no longer prepared to fund the ‘white elephant’ which, at the time of its closure, had a cash outflow of over R500 million.

In a village where life revolved around the continued existence of the mine, thousands are now faced with more than just dire poverty, but also no positive prospect of the future.

We are dealing with the legacy of a mine that has mined in our community for over half a century without bringing about any project that doesn’t depend on mining. More than 100 businesses including construction, trucking, catering, engineering, mining and maintenance supply companies that were subcontractors for Bokoni have shut up shop. More than 300 taxis that operated between Polokwane, Burgersfort, Lebowakgomo and Atok have been grounded, and many of the vehicles have been repossessed because they failed to make their repayments.

There are no prospects of survival because life was dependent on mining. The economic decline in the area had led to a spike in many social ills, including domestic violence and crime.

Before the mine closed down, and long after, the area had seen the exodus of young people leaving the area to seek greener pastures in other provinces, particularly Gauteng. There is very little, if any, prospects for a brighter future in the area of their birth.

Meanwhile youngsters as young as nine can be seen turning up the dirt playing street soccer on a daily basis, blissfully unaware of the life challenges that await them in a decade or so.

This is where Koketšo Makgalema Lennox Thobela comes in. He is a football development coach, talent scout, mentor, filmmaker, politician and a law student. In this backdrop of poverty and hopelessness, Koketšo brought hope for the area’s youngsters by getting them off the streets, introducing them to football and assisting those who show talent to go to trials where football scouts will be present. In his quest to groom future stars, he has rubbed shoulders with renowned football scouts, amongst them Tim Sukazi, and developed contacts in the footballing world that span across Mzansi.

Keeping the ball rolling is his story.

THE ART OF PREPARING FOR A JOB INTERVIEW

Author: Phinda Mkhonta

“If you live in the wild, you need to know how to make fire to survive. But you live in an urban world, and you need to make money. That means you need a job and the only way to get a job is by turning a job interview into a job offer.” – Martin Yate

The above quote perfectly describes what is contained in social entrepreneur, youth leader, business consultant and personal development coach Phinda Mkhonta’s book, The Art Of Preparing For A Job Interview.

Mkhonta, from Manzini in Eswatini, is the co-founder of Rethink Foundation, which focuses on a number of charity initiatives, promotion of youth entrepreneurship, development programmes and community building initiatives. He is a social entrepreneur, poet, youth leader, business consultant, author and personal development coach. In the past few years he has been instrumental in assisting start-up projects and assisting in a number of business initiatives.

“This is the book that seeks to turn you into becoming the most wanted employee. The book will give you clear guidelines to prepare and handle your next job interview. It will also give you an overview of positioning your career path, growth and success as a professional. Every warfare is first won in preparation before the battlefield. Your victory in a job interview is first won in preparation before the interview room.”

In the ever-changing job economic environment today, there is a high need for individuals looking for jobs to evolve and prepare themselves for today’s jobs and future job opportunities. Therefore, individuals looking for jobs in today’s economy must be able to position themselves in their career path.

This book is the right tool that will help individuals to tap into available job opportunities into the emerging gig economy and build their career path.

“Some young people want to become entrepreneurs but working for a functioning company can teach you processes, moreover it can be also a good stepping stone for your transitional journey to become an entrepreneur,” he said. “If you are an intraprenuar, you can end up becoming an entrepreneur. A good job will equip you to personal growth, accountability, leadership skills, risk management and other soft skills you can develop while working with other people.”

Mzwandile Dlamini, Head of Human Resource and Development at Maloma Colliery, said what Phinda Mkhonta has done is absolutely remarkable. This book, he said, shares the necessary technics to unlock the greatness in all of us because that’s what employers all over the world are looking for – great employees.

“After reading this book, when you sit in an interview, your prospective employer will see a person driven with passion seeking to be given a chance to do what they love every day,” he said. “I am certain this book will be an eye-opener to some aspirant and professionals seeking to grow their careers. Take it from a veteran in the HR field, it doesn’t matter how great you are, if you can’t sell yourself…”

Phinda Mkhonta was recently nominated for the Mandela Washington Fellowship 2019 under Entrepreneurship and Leadership in Business in Lehigh University, Bethlehem in the United States of America, with other 700 emerging young African leaders making a difference in the continent of Africa and their communities. He is the co-founder and Director of Rethink Foundation, which focuses on a number of charity initiatives, promotion of youth entrepreneurship, development programmes and community building initiatives. He is also a social entrepreneur, poet, youth leader, business consultant, author and personal development coach. In the past few years he has been instrumental in assisting start-up projects and assisting in a number of business initiatives.

UMYENI – THE HUSBAND 

Author: Zanda Sphesihle

Freewheeling 25-year-old Wandisa Ngcobo has mastered the art of lying to a ‘tee’. But then her one big whooper to her family – that she is married to a successful international businessman – lands her in a quandary when her wealthy grandmother dies and leaves her a fortune to the tune of millions. The only way she could claim her inheritance is if she finally present her mystery husband, whom she had fibbed she has been married to for two long years.

She embarks on a journey to find her long time crush, and she has to convince him to marry her in order to claim her inheritance from her grandmother’s unerring attorney. The tricky part is that her crush is already a married man, and seemingly lives a happy life with his beautiful wife and two kids.

Meanwhile in the royal family, Muzi Myeni is the first born son of the king, making him the next in line to the throne. His family follows a tradition that the king has to have four wives, with at least one being of royal blood. His almost perfect, orderly life gets shaken when his heart is stolen by a woman who refuses to be in a polygamous marriage. Will he follow tradition, or his heart?

TWO TIMES’ THE CHARM

Lastborn publishes his second book

What makes relationships work, and what contributes to their failure?

Lastborn, real name Patrick Moabui, offers a tongue-in-cheek look at relationships today, in his newly released book, Decoding Relationships With Lastborn.

Released in August, Decoding Relationships With Lastborn is Patrick’s second book, his first being a collection of poems titled Cry And Laugh With Lastborn. Both books were published through PUBLISH’D AFRIKA.

“The book is intended to help readers reflect on their relationships and correct their mistakes,” he said. “It looks at what makes relationships work and what makes them fail. It tackles a variety of issues such as infidelity, family interference in relationships and marriages, culture and religion, children born out of wedlock and the biggest elephant in the room, finances.”

Patrick said becoming an author has always been his dream, and was grateful that PUBLISH’D AFRIKA was there to assist him realise it. Writing, he said, comes naturally to him and he intends to write as many books as possible in the future. He is already working on his third book, a poetry collection.

Patrick is one of the authors who continuously trust PUBLISH’D AFRIKA with their masterpieces. Botswana-based author Sarah Mberengo is currently in the process of publishing her fourth offering with PUBLISH’D AFRIKA. Her first book, Such Is Life, was published in 2021, followed by the trilogy, The Adventures of Nesu. PUBLISH’D AFRIKA is currently working on two more books by the educator, set for release in December.

Njabulo I. Makhaye’s first book, In Search Of A Home Within The Human Spirit, was published in 2021. He once again entrusted PUBLISH’D AFRIKA with his second project, Conscious Communication Can Be The Difference Maker, set for release in October.

PUBLISH’D AFRIKA is also being approached by various authors for revision, editing, proofreading and development of their previously published books. Recently completed projects include Lebogane Mhlongo’s Blood Brothers – The Hatred and Khanyisile Galela’s children’s book, As We Grow. We have also done Manuscript and Character Development on Godfrey Malibe’s fourth book, Happily Ever After.

BE IN MY SHOES

A vicious circle of abuse and neglect

“Stop making assumptions about me, rather get closer and put yourself in my shoes, and then start to judge. Don’t ask me why it happened, ask me how it happened.” –Juliet Lee

She flashes a smile, laughs heartily and easily you’d swear she is a woman without a single care in the world. But that’s just a mask Juliet Lee puts on every morning, takes it off at night and then buries her face in the pillow that is always soggy with her tears. This is a woman who has endured all sorts of pain dating back from a troubled childhood. Finding love proved to be an even bigger torment, with a series of failed relationships that left her broken, used, defeated and unloved. 

Take a walk in Juliet Lee’s shoes as she relates how her strained relationship with her mother, step-father and estranged father, and how life’s harrowing punches meted out by two-

faced lovers, co-workers and gossip-mongers has forced her to develop a thick skin and a dim view of the world around her. This is a story about an innocent rural girl who endured pain throughout her life journey, an unalloyed girl whose innocence was stolen by a lady friend, a family friend, a family member and an ex-lover’s goons. Walk with her as she takes you through a journey of abuse, disappointment, hate and lust where love seems to have taught her nothing but hate, where love seems to have brought her nothing but pain and confusion.

A journey without leaders to give her direction in life.

“Juliet Lee strips herself bare in this riveting account about a childhood marred by a series of sexual abuse, neglect and ultimately becoming an adult who had to undergo the same vicious cycle all over again” – Thokozani Magagula, author and co-founder of PUBLISH’D AFRIKA.

‘Be In My Shoes’ is part of a two-book series that Juliet Lee will be publishing about her life through PUBLISH’D AFRIKA. The sequel, which depicts her journey to healing, growth and lessons learnt about life, love and the power of letting go, will follow in early 2022.

DEPRESSION CAN BE BEATEN

“I am living proof” – Author Vernon Nesengani

In Search Of A Home Within The Human Spirit

As he walks down the street, no one can tell that the handsome, well-dressed and charismatic 33-year-old suffers from several debilitating mental disorders and allergies.

“I don’t wear the schizophrenia, bipolar or depression badges on my sleeve, if there is even such a thing,” he said. “I guess I am the living proof that any mental condition or disorder can be overcome, be it depression, schizophrenia or bipolar. Anyone with these conditions can be a productive and functional member of society, only if they learn how to manage these conditions.”

Njabulo Makhaye, of Bothas Hill in KwaZulu-Natal, but currently residing in Lambston near Germiston in Gauteng, is the author of The Journey In Search Of A Home Within The Human Spirit, which he published through PUBLISH’D AFRIKA. The book is a layman’s guide on how to live and thrive despite suffering from depression, schizophrenia and any other genetic clinical conditions. He is also involved in skills development and child and youth care at Epworth Children’s Village. He also does virtual counseling online and leadership coaching for Beacons Academy.

Born in Gillits, Durban in Kwazulu-Natal, Njabulo grew up with an absent father, who also suffered from schizophrenia. He was raised by a domestic worker mother, and his life took a turn for the worst when he left home and immersed himself into worldly pleasures.

“I was trying to escape the hurt I felt at seeing my peers achieving greater things in life, while my life was being dragged backwards by conditions and disorders I didn’t even understand at the time,” he said. “I forced myself into university and did a course in IT, hoping that I will finish quickly and make money to ease the conditions at home. Then I failed and dropped out in 1^st semester.”

It was however the love for his mother and the will to improve his living conditions that shifted his focus and propelled him to seek meaning and purpose in his life. He enrolled at Unisa and did psychology, scoring straight distinctions on an access programme. The problem became money to finance his fees. He volunteered in various organisations until he could pay for the courses. He has so far achieved qualifications in courses such as Logo therapy and Occupational Directed Education Training and Practices including Child and Youth Care.

“I got to know what schizophrenia is through seeing my father when he had one of his episodes,” he said. “The violence, the rage and the destruction that trailed its wake scared me to the core. When I found out I suffered from the same condition and other disorders, I had to find a way to deal with them before them consumed my life.”

Njabulo switched his focus to the spiritual realm, which steered him to seek to make a difference in the society in which he lived, and found that the core of humanity is deeply rooted within the human spirit. Interacting with those nearest to him not only helped him to keep his conditions in check, but reminded him that the enemy isn’t the people around him, but the conditions that sought to swallow his life whole.

“A person can literally find a home within another person other than his own house,” said Njabulo. “The values that they share together bring them closer to each other. Love is the universal language that all man can understand better. It is the highest value that a man can ever strive for in life. It takes a journey to find A Home Within The Human Spirit.”

Njabulo was fortunate to have the opportunity to attend a life skills and leadership course at World Changers Academy in 2005, which assisted him to gain insight into his God-given potential. During the course, Njabulo realised that he, and many others like him, lacked guidance to understand their true potential and purpose. Upon his return, he taught what he had learnt to his family and friends. He could see and understand their desperate need and longing for more, and so he committed himself to bringing similar material from the World Changers course and Light Providers to the society.

“I began coordinating and teaching life skills courses to the Durban community,” he said. “I worked with, amongst others, high schools, Open Door Crisis Centre, Lifeline and the Dr Seni Myeni Foundation of Hope, known as Imbeleko. I realised in order to beat these conditions, I have to interact with people and be part of society. Clinical conditions, by their very nature, seek to isolate their victims. That’s how these conditions thrive.”

Njabulo’s book is currently available directly from him. People interested in purchasing a copy can contact him at 081 555 0859.

GODFREY MALIBE’S HAPPILY EVER AFTER

It may have been teenage love, but the scars of a broken heart never truly heal…

Jonathan and Lerato have been together since their teen years, and have vowed that they wouldn’t defile their love by rushing into premature sex. That is until the infamous King George comes into the picture. Known for deflowering young girls all over Bushbuckridge, Lerato couldn’t have known that she too would be the wealthy married man’s prey, until it was too late…

But it seems Cupid isn’t done with the young lovers yet. Eight years on the pair meet again, only this time Jonathan is a tough as nails lawyer going through a debilitating divorce, while professional nurse Lerato may have lost her kids to her medical doctor husband, who seemingly has fled with their twins to his native country. Not only can they help each deal with life’s painful punches, but they also have a chance at love again.

Godfrey Malibe weaves an intriguing story of teenage love, loss and heartbreak. He trails a loving mother as she dissects the dusty streets of Africa’s most populous nation in search of her kids, and gives a terrifying glimpse into some of the country’s underworld criminal syndicates comprising of politicians, high-ranking law enforcement officials, the ‘Number’ gangs and former apartheid spies. He also probes the sugardaddy phenomenon and shows what makes them irresistible to teen girls.

Happily Ever After is Godfrey Malibe’s fourth book and his second work of fiction. Through tongue-in-cheek and multi-dimensional narratives, Malibe manages to tackle thorny issues in our communities, amongst them white-collar crime, the sugardaddy phenomenon, unplanned pregnancies amongst the youth, breakdown of families and divorce.

ANELA TACKLES ANGELS AND DEMONS

Although he aspires to be a mechanical engineer in a few years’ time, Anela Mdungela cannot shake off the fantasy-writing bug that bit him when he was merely 12 years old.

The 21-year-old, from Sterkspruit in the Eastern Cape, has now published his debut book titled Moonlight Blue Vol.1, a fantasy novel packed with scenes of magic, mysticism, angels and demons, and re-incarnation.  

Anela, who is doing his third year in mechanical engineering at the Central University of Technology in Bloemfontein, Free State, said the book started off as nothing but an idea because of all the Sci-Fi, fantasy literature and movies he had been consuming since he was 12 years old. 

“I have always had a good imagination with bold ideas that accompanied it, so it was only natural that the simple hobby of writing a few thousand words a week would become an obsession,” he said. “The biggest hurdle has always been that I was nothing more than an aspiring author and I was self-taught in the craft, without much experience.”

Anela said he was then referred to PUBLISH’D AFRIKA, an independent publishing imprint that assisted him to edit and structure the story, and develop the manuscript as well as the characters. The book took four months to edit, develop and publish.

Moonlight Blue is about a man who is murdered and then reborn into a world of magic and mysticism. Shortly after birth his mother, who is of noble descent, is brutally taken away from him but he survives the attack. He is found and raised in the outskirts of the Silent Demon Forest by his sickly adopted grandmother, the adventurer Barbra.

“She names him Allen, blissfully unaware that the bundle of joy is a re-incarnated being born with magical powers, who remembers vividly every detail of his previous life,” said Anela. “As Allen grows up, he discovers that not only does magic exist in this new world, but monsters and demons exist too. He vows to be the strongest of them all so that he can protect the human race.”

From unexplained mysteries to moments that steer Allen closer to discovering his alternate universe’s ancestral bloodline, Anela’s Moonlight Blue is packed with captivating scenes that take the reader down the rabbit hole, each chapter offering no respite from the action.