A young author, Rolivhuwa Ramulifho, who had put all the screws into the right places to ensure that she launch her book is optimistic that she will still make it happen right after the lockdown.
Rolivhuwa, a resident Nngwekhulu Tshilata village, had spent about R10 000 on printing her book, for marketing purposes and other logistics. She had other people who had rallied behind her with support via donations to ensure that she had a successful book launch.
"I had spent four months preparing for the launch," she said. "It was going to be a great event which was not only aimed at launching the book but also to empower our fellow local youths in many ways."
Rolivhuwa expressed appreciation for the help she had been receiving from local businesses and individuals in her area. "Even all those who had vouched to support me with donations had expressed their disappointment," she said.
"Invitations were printed and sent out, I had all the food and other stuff in place. This is not going to be easy for me to redo everything from scratch."
Rolivhuwa's debut novel is entitled Vhutshilo vhu a konda. The author possesses a great talent for weaving words together to create meaning.
The novel tackles the issue of a woman's 'infertility' or 'supposed bareness' that causes a man to abuse his wife and blame her for her inability to conceive. On the other hand, it shows how important raising stepchildren with total love and care is, as is the case in one family where a now-affluent stepson acknowledges the stepfather's contribution to his life in contrast with the 'absent biological father'.
The author said that Vhutshilo vhu a konda showed women that walking out of an abusive relationship was better. "If women could walk out and work for themselves, they would be much happier in their lives, rather than staying in a pain-infested relationship," she said.
The new date for the launch will be announced in due time. "Let's keep a positive attitude during these hard times and take great care," she said.