Phathutshedzo Netshivhulana (23) from Tshaulu village outside Thohoyandou is convinced that her book, Pfuramathupho, has made a valuable contribution in helping victims of gender-based violence to speak out.
Pfuramathupho, which means ‘the core of suffering’, was released in September this year. Netshivhulana, who has had first-hand experience of sexual abuse as a university student, came up with the idea to write the book to alert other university students about the kind of dangers to look out for.
Netshivhulana was abused by three senior students on different occasions while registering as a first-year student at Univen. “First-year students at universities or other tertiary institutions often face challenges, as everything is still new to them. As a first-year student one might seek assistance from other students who in turn might demand sexual favours. This is sexual abuse. The sad part is that it often goes unreported, and the perpetrators keep on abusing students.” Her book, she says, might be the voice speaking for the voiceless.
Netshivhulana studied for her bachelor’s degree in urban and regional planning and graduated in June this year. Besides writing a book, she is also a performing poet, winner of Lesedi Publishers’ Virtual Poetry Competition in 2020 and she won the Best Poet award at the Vhavenda Acknowledge Awards by Unique Me in 2021.
To order Netshivhulana’s book, contact her directly on 072 493 9114. The book costs R200.
