Local author Phuthaditjhaba Netshivhulana (23) has published her first Tshivenda novel, titled Pfuramathupo, which gives an insight into student life, including the dangers involved for young people.
The young author, born at Tshaulu, today holds a bachelors' degree in urban and regional planning, but her journey to obtaining her degree had not been an easy one. In her book, she lets the reader in on how her expectations about university life turned into a series of traumatic experiences, and how she overcame them.
The book gives parents a glimpse of what some students get subjected to as it addresses the issue of gender-based violence at higher-learning institutions. It identifies the different types of abuse, causes, and measures that can be taken to avoid it.
"I used to write short stories and my friends had always been impressed with my writing ability. I only really took it seriously when I started writing Pfuramathupo. I went through many experiences and wanted to share them with others. The moral of the story is that whatever difficult situation we go through in life eventually comes to an end," she said.
Netshivhulana encourages other young people to utilise their talents to motivate their communities. "It is important to use our skills while we are still young, because that could be the foundation of our future. Mine is an inborn talent, but my success is coupled with hard work and a positive attitude. I also want to prove the fact that success does not depend on whether you come from a disadvantaged rural area, like my own, but on your ability to use the limited resources at your disposal profitably."
People who might be interested to buy the book can phone Netshivhulana on 072 493 9114.