Gelma's debut book on shelves

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Maniini-based author Gelma Ranama Ramabulana Mononyane launched her first book, I lived to tell a story, at River Cross Resort in Thohoyandou last Saturday.

According to her, truth is like a sun. "You can shut it out for some time, but it is not going away," she said.

She started writing it in 2016 and it is inspired by her life experiences. "I want to remind people from all parts of the world that a story not told remains unknown to all of us, until one takes the first step to talk and stop bottling up," she said. "Let's share our stories and see if someone can't be helped through our stories. This book talks about challenges that people experience in their everyday lives. Most of the challenges such as gender-based violence aren't being addressed."

The 34-year-old said the book also addresses love issues. "If you are in love, care about your partner's feelings. Be loyal when you are in a relationship and respect your partner."

When asked about the target market for the book, she said only people from the age of 18 could read it. "This book is age restricted because there's strong language in it and can't be read in schools. It's for married people and young people who are in serious relationships. I want to educate my readers not to base their relationships on material goods, but love and companionship."

The mother of four discovered her writing skills at the age of 13 in high school. "I used to write dramas that were staged at school and I received good feedback," she said. After passing Grade 12, she went to study media studies at Rosebank College. 

The book has been published by Dominate Publishing. For book purchases, phone her on 078 487 3816.

By: Mbulaheni Ridovhona

The 22-year-old Mbulaheni (Gary) Ridovhona has been passionate about journalism to the extent that he would buy himself a copy of weekly Univen students' newsletter, Our Voice. After reading, he would write stories about his rural village, Mamvuka, and submit them to the very newsletter for publication. His deep-rooted love for words and writing saw him register for a Bachelor of Arts in Media Studies at the University of Venda, and joined the Limpopo Mirror team in February 2016 as a journalism intern.