24-year-old University of Fort Hare student, Abongile Ngqoleka, wrote a book raising awareness about gender-based violence (GBV). The book does not only talk about GBV but also touches on other factors in the country, such as HIV, depression, killing of people living with albinism and the LGBTQI community.
The author, who was raised in the Eastern Cape in KwaBhanca, also known as Mount Frere, is doing his 4th year in Bachelor of Social Sciences, majoring in Criminology. He tells BONA that writing the book was his way of finding peace after he lost his sister who was stabbed to death by her boyfriend in 2016, as well as saying “rest in peace” to all souls that were lost through GBV.
The book, which has helped him as a copying mechanism, took two years and eight months to finish and publish, and is now being sold in the Eastern Cape. Abongile named the book Nakhane which means ‘to build each other.’ “GBV is a very sensitive matter, I understand that, but I would advise anyone going through it to find a way to leave or at least find someone they can trust to talk so they get the help they need,” Abongile says.
He is a firm believer of ‘dreams come through’ as he did not have a jolly childhood. He lost his mother at a very young age and had to move to an orphanage, but that did not stop him from pursuing his dream of becoming a writer. He worked hard to be where he is and encourages his peers to not give up on their dreams.
Abongile believes that solutions to these problems will be found and people will not go through the pain anymore. “I believe sharing my experiences through the book will help a lot of people who are suffering from the same problems I had, no one should be afraid of living their lives.”
Also see: How to build a non-toxic relationship with your kids
