Langutani Rikhotso, who was the victim of rape at a young age, is currently writing a Xitsonga novel to encourage and inspire victims of gender-based violence (GBV). The rising author, poet and motivational speaker deals with the ordeal and trauma through motivational speaking and by reciting her novels.
Langutani (21) is currently a second-year language practice student at Tshwane University of Technology. She hails from Chavani Village, not far from Elim.
Langutani is busy working on a novel, titled Maxangu ya Vutomi (The tragedy of life). "I am working on my own Xitsonga novel that explains how I became a survivor of rape and what I went through," she says. She also hosts events and functions to raise awareness about GBV and she encourages other potential victims of sexual crimes to come forward and break the silence about their abusers.
She previously collaborated with poets from all nine provinces who penned a multilingual poetry anthology, named 100 Echoes of Madiba's Century. Published by the National Library of South Africa in 2019, the anthology aimed to pay tribute to late former president Nelson Mandela's love of language and reading. "I was very happy to be representing the Xitsonga poets as it was a huge opportunity," she said.
Her journey as a writer and poet began shortly after she was raped in 2016, at the age of 15. "I was going through a lot as a victim of rape and wrote my first poem, Alone in the darkness," she said. She has produced three more audio poems in Xitsonga and English, namely Manana xiluva xa mbilu yanga (My mother is a rose of my heart), Dear first lover, and Inspiration about life.
On the challenges she faced after the rape incident, she said: "I used to struggle with flashbacks and abuse from school mates and people from the rural area. It's very deep. But I got assistance from my pastor and two social workers. My friend also gave me Joyce Meyer's books; they encouraged me to stand up again," she said.