Fulufhelo Ndou, a 17-year-old upcoming poet from the region, has taken to heart the effects that the abuse against women and children are having on society. This has prompted her to pen down a poem, titled Gender-based Violence, which she recited for the first time during a women's function that was held at Lwamondo on Saturday, 27 May.
The Grade 11 learner from Khwevha Commercial High School in Tshisahulu left a deep impression on the women in attendance and received loud cheers and wild applause after her performance.
Fulufhelo said she was concerned about the spiralling abuse she saw around her, especially against women and children, which had become like a terminal disease in communities. "Whether you switch the radio on, read the newspaper or watch television, the killing or abuse of women and children is always the main headline. When is all this going to end, and women and children left alone to live in peace? As women we have had enough. We all have to stand up and fight this disease together. If we keep quiet, who is going to speak for us? We should all shout out with one voice that we are tired; this must come to an end," she said.
Fulufhelo said her passion for poetry had truly been ignited while she had attended Tshedza Comprehensive School and had been selected to take part in the Baswa le Metse competition to represent Vhembe at provincial level and had come second. "I have never looked back and will keep on preaching the gospel wherever I get a platform to do so. I have composed enough material to fill a book, but I still lack the financial support to help get my work published, so that I can reach a wider audience. Vendaboy Poet inspires me, and it is my wish to one day meet him, so that we can discuss poetry. This would be a dream come true for me," she said.