E TV news anchor Norma Young will interview the two authors before we open the discussion to the audience.

Are Affirmative Action tokens just prostitutes, no different from the ladies of the night?

Thandiwe Goge, one of two central characters in Shameless by Futhi Ntshingila, certainly thinks so. “I am Thandiwe Goge, a prostitute. My work is honest. I prefer to see it as less pretentious than most jobs offered to young blacks in post apartheid South Africa. In fact when I think of it, being a whore is better.”

Shameless tells the story of two girls, Thandiwe and Zonke, whose journey starts in the poor rural village of Mpumuza in KZN. Having escaped the poverty and violence of the 1980′s, the home girls find themselves walking the streets of Joburg; one, shamelessly selling her body, and the other, helping street kids.

• The book will be sold on the night for R95,00

**

Themba Limba’s flourishing career and resultant rise in stature in his community of Sekunjalo in Grahamstown, quickly runs to his head and, put delicately,the lower part of his abdomen. Having begun his sexcapades at an early age, with his Aunt Gladys nogal, Themba’s sex appetite seems to be without bounds, as he spends the better part of his adult life as a teacher and councillor, chasing every “delicate flesh”.
A sexual pest of note, Themba finally meets his match when he has sex with one of his students.

When a Man Cries by Siphiwo Mahala book paints the downfall of a man who has exploited his status to extort sexual favours from his victims. Mahala explores the moral decay that has become so much a part of South Africa today.

• The book will be sold on the night for R135,00

Event Details

• Date: Friday, 20 June 2008
• Time: 6:30 PM for 7:00 PM Sharp
• Venue: VC House, 19 Monkor Rd, Randpark Ridge
  Randburg, Johannesburg | Map
• Guest Speaker: Norma Young
• Refreshments: Cocktails
• Note: ENTRANCE IS FREE, ALL WELCOME. Prior confirmation required for entry. Directions will be sent on request.
• RSVP: info@vulindlelacomm.co.za

About the authors

Futhi Ntshingila is a former Sunday Times reporter who is currently employed in the Office of the President, where she is responsible for research, drafting and speech writing.

Siphiwo Mahala is an accomplished short story writer. He has contributed short stories to many anthologies and two of his stories appeared in the Southern African Short Story Review: The Best Stories of 2002. He is currently the Deputy Director: Books and Publishing, at the Dept of Arts and Culture.

Book Details

• When a Man Cries by Siphiwo Mahala
  Book Homepage
  EAN: 9781869141318
  Find this book with BOOK Finder!

• Shameless by Futhi Ntshingila
  Book Homepage
  EAN: 9781869141431
  Find this book with BOOK Finder!

Monday 12 May, 4:28: “I am sorry to be the bearer of bad news but Xolela …..” This is probably the worst message any event organiser wants to hear – the cancellation of an event. I couldn’t even listen to the rest of the message before my heart started racing, head throbbing and the usual deep sunken feeling in my stomach I get when I am nervous, engulfed my body.

Monday 12 May 4.30: I had hardly recovered when the “ping” sound from my computer went off, signalling the arrival of an email. It was from the Marketing & PR Officer at UKZN Press (a wonderful woman). “I just received an email from Xolela … .”. “Heck, I’m still wobbly from the phone message. Purlees”, I thought.

Monday 12 May 4.32: And as I was reading Xolela’s “unfortunate” message – “mbzzzz”. It’s my cellphone. I receive an sms I had been waiting for the entire day to confirm the time of a meeting with a Mr Makhanya for that evening. Bang! Nope, no meeting. “How about tomorrow?”. Eish, not another dumping.

Anyway, back to Xolela.

No matter what every text book tells you about proper planning, not even the worlds best public relations companies plan for a cancellation of an event. It’s simply too depressing to plan an event whilst also thinking that it might be cancelled.

Unfortunately, Xolela has another engagement out in the Eastern Cape and is not able to make it this Friday.

I am shattered and don’t even know how to begin breaking the bad news to all the VC Netwox members who were so looking forward to discussing the book with Xolela. The decision to cancel an event is extremely difficult and costly but these readings aren’t your run of the mill events. You go through the book, come up with all the “intelligent” questions you will pose to an equally intelligent author.

Maybe not all is lost

Tuesday, May 13, 8.28: Adele from UKZN Press again. Poor thing, don’t know if she slept at all. We may have another date with Xolela. Whoopie, my emotions soar again. Watch this space.

DON’T FORGET

• Futhi Ntshingila and Siphiwo Mahala at the Netwox on Thursday, 5 June

Aids, Zimbabwe, corruption, the tendency to label black critics as sellouts and coconuts, and whites’ refusal to adapt to change – Mangcu rips apart the climate which has shaped “our political culture with grave public policy consequences”.

Programme

• Cocktails
• Author reading
• Q&A
• Book sale and signing

Entrance is free but RSVP by 13 May is essential.

Event Details

• Date: Friday, 16 May 2008
• Time: 6:30 PM for 7:00 PM
• Venue: VC House, 19 Monkor Rd, Randpark Ridge
  Johannesburg | Map
• RSVP: info@vulindlelacomm.co.za

PS – Futhi Ntshingila reads on 5 June.

Book Details

• To the Brink by Xolela Mangcu
  EAN: 9781869141370
  Find this book with BOOK Finder!

I couldn’t, simply because I had no answer. That in itself is strange for me given that I’m not one who never has nothing to say.

There has been quite a bit of uncertainty in my life since the start of the year. As some may know, after the many burglaries at VC House I had last year, I caved into criminals and decided to move office. I tried, without much success, to sell or let my office. And so, with every hope that the office will be released from my hands, I have struggled to plan properly.

To be honest, I’m also shit scared of opening the office to all and sundry, for fear of the possibility of thugs scoping the area in the name of attending a book reading – cant begin to explain the impact criminals have on one’s mind.

I have since resigned myself to keeping this beautiful place and have decided to form a residents association to assist the police in fighting crime. So, I am busy with that.

This past Saturday, I went to bury a friend whose life was cut short by liver cancer. She was diagnosed last year and kept this to herself and her husband. Women, as natural caregivers, tend to deflect attention from themselves, and choose to rather suffer in silence. She went into hospital at the beginning of last month and was dead by Easter. She left all of us in deep shock and sadness. I have never met a more remarkable person as this woman – with so much love, care and generosity.

Anyway, I digress. At her funeral, I met a group of young women interested in joining VC Netwox. They had read about it and seen my picture in articles on it. My heart soared with pride as I was reminded, once again, why I started this book club.

I started this week full of energy. I have decided to start a cancer fund in my friend’s honour. This will be hard work but I’m convinced that with the help of the many friends she had amassed during her philanthropic work, we will be able to raise enough awareness about this killer disease.

I’m still jittery about opening the office to all (I havent figured out how I will be dealing with that), but I know I must also continue with the book club. And I will.

Nothing could be sweeter than starting the year as a Winner. And so, when I received the good news from my man Ben, that I had won a case of wine for dissing Eskom over its load shedding, I was thoroughly thrilled.

I’m not a wine drinker but at the time, I thought I would use the box for my VC Netwox wine-guzzling guests.

What I, Eskom, Government and the rest of South Africa, didn’t contemplate was the misery that would follow. The overwhelming stress levels created by load shedding (no, I don’t want to discuss productivity, loss of income, etc) have begged for serious stress relievers and I am not talking massage, reiki and that lot of the alternative medicine type.

In a province where stress is the order of the day and alcohol has been seen as the quick-fix cure, I cannot imagine the rate of alcoholism that will be engulfing us come 2013 when Eskom tells us the power problems would have been fixed.

And so, as Fred Khumalo, in his column on Sunday, blames Eskom for breaking his meat fast, I want to know who will pay for all the dronkies that will be swarming all over our country in years to come.

Given the current levels of darkness, frankly I see a nation that will be so drunk that missing the 2010 World Cup completely is not a remote possibility.

And so, from my candle-lit haven, I shall be feasting on some squid cooked over my primus stove (for all of you who don’t know what I’m talking about, this is the one-plate stove that uses paraffin) and sipping some delightful grapes courtesy of Leopards Leap and Book SA. Cheers!

Its hard to believe that businesses are able to operate in South Africa under the current environment of high levels of crime and inefficiency – that’s the only way we can explain Eskom’s load shedding – and no, I am not interested in the usual “reasons” of apartheid legacy infrastructural backlog. We have had 13 years to plan people!

Even as I write this, I am under extreme pressure to beat the latest threat of another load shedding!

Anyway, back to books. I am a bit late with this post and please blame it on Jackie Selebi’s criminal friends, Eskom’s load shedding, Telkom’s never ending problems with cable thieves, and insurance companies’ inefficiency.

At Risk at VC Netwox

So what if the Fred Khumalo and Makhosazana Xaba’s reading at VC Netwox didn’t meet our expected numbers? We have come to realise that the book will never compete with Xmas functions, unless of course, you have what girls perceive to be a “hunk” author like Dr Mtutuzeli Nyoka, whose reading beat the World Aids Day celebrations, with numbers still unsurpassed at VC Netwox.

The discussion was as usual robust. At Risk being a collaboration of a wide range of people, and our having just come out of the rugby world cup victory, the issue of unity amongst South Africans came under sharp focus. “Can there be a great South African book that we would all embrace without the usual race issue playing a role?” “What would make a great South African book?” “What would characterize such a book?” “Would it be one that was embraced by the majority, for example?” There was obviously no common ground; suffice to say, South Africa isn’t ready to be united behind one book.

Khosi surprised at the title of the book

One of the most interesting aspects was when Khosi disclosed her surprise at the title. She says she didn’t think there was anything risky about what she had written – a story about her relationship with a racist white neighbour in Yeoville. That in itself led us to the topic of book titles. We were reminded of Mmatshilo Motsei’s reading, where we came to the conclusion that her book, The Kanga and the Kangaroo Court, was misleading in that one would have thought it was about the Jacob Zuma rape case when it was much broader than that.

Lovely touch – Fred invites the subject of his essay

Its not often that the subject of a book turns up at a reading of that book, but Vumindaba Dube – a Zimbabwean professional who came to Jozi in search of gold and has been transformed literally into a homeless bum who spends most of his time in pubs in the hope of finding the next rent money – was there. As both author and subject explained, he was there as confirmation of how real these essays in At Risk are. By the way, Fred’s unflattering description of Dube in the book is also absolutely apt. Fred says Dube had a hand in the essay – he read extracts of his life and contributed where he felt Fred had been shy with words.

Publishers – whose interests do they serve?

I have always been surprised at the lack of response from publishers when I request that they hook me up with a writer. With the exception of STE and Jacana, I have received a cold shoulder from some publishers. I was quite surprised at Jonathan Ball’s disinterest in my request for them to organize some authors from At Risk and Mark Gevisser.

Fortunately, I knew where to find Justice and Fred, who gave me Makhosazana’s details. I spoke to Edwin Cameron about Mark and he gave me his details.

This was the same with Oshun. I was desperate to go to Alexandra Library with Melinda Ferguson and her book Smacked. I had discussions with the publicist and she was going to find Melinda and get back to me. I never heard from her despite several phone calls and emails from me.

At the beginning of the year, my office sent a letter to just about every publisher asking them to sign up authors on our programme. With the exception of two; a dodgy publisher who claimed to publish a newspaper to several townships and even requested that I write an entire full page tabloid on reading but failed to send me a copy, and one who published educational books, we didn’t hear from anybody else.

Oh, nearly forgot to include being included on Penguin’s newsletter mailing list.

Honestly, it may be my ego running wild here, but I would have thought that a forum such as VC Netwox giving authors a platform to promote their books – including book sales at the events – would be of interest to all parties including the publishers.

And so, I brought this up at the reading. To my shock, the authors were not surprised. Now read what you like into that!

Adopt a library effort

I am always looking for ways of expanding the programme. Last year, VC Netwox went to libraries, and next year, I plan to go to schools. I’m currently in discussions with a newspaper for a media partnership that will help drive this initiative. Watch this space?

Isnt it atrocious that a country as rich as ours has one of the lowest literacy levels in the world? Some of Africa’s poorest countries beat us at reading. So, through this new project, I hope to be able to redress this.

A handful of VC Netwox fans wouldn’t stop nagging. And in fact, I threatened one with a charge of stalking if he didn’t stop phoning me every other day to find out if there was a book reading session. Gosh what a bloody nag. Actually this guy needs to get a life. As much as it may be flattering, he cannot rely on VC Netwox to prop his social life.

Fred and Khosi Read for us

So, first up is a book reading session with Fred Khumalo and Nomakhosazana Xaba, reading from At Risk, on 2nd November 2007 at VC House (19 Monkor Road – Randpark Ridge – JHB; map; Tel: 011 476 9203; Email: info@vulindlelacomm.co.za; homepage).

This will probably be our last reading for the year depending on whether the long awaited Mark Gevisser’s book on the president comes out this year and he has time to read at VC Netwox. Cant wait for this one. I hear its riveting stuff that gives you insight on Thabo Mbeki, going back to the family history, the man and the road to the top job.

Desperate for Justice

I had so desperately wanted Justice Malala to read his essay “Losing my mind” in At Risk, to us. In this narrative, which most South Africans will relate to, he recounts his personal experiences with crime since his return from London in 2003.

This is a sad tale of a man whose love and patriotism for his country is now in doubt. Like most of us, he is fed up with the brutality and level of arrogance with which criminals seem to be going about their business with impunity. What is probably worse than doubting yourself and contemplating giving up on what you care for and love, is sticking it out despite the overwhelming and paralysing fear you live in. Fear, not only of the criminals but fear of speaking out, more so if you are black.

After being burgled ten times in two years at my office, I had so desperately wanted him to read to us so that I could vent my anger – at the government, the police, security and insurance companies.

After being burgled ten times, everyone wants to know why I am still at this place. Well, the answer lies in the views from this house. Situated next to a bird sanctuary and overlooking the Randpark Ridge golf course and the Northcliff hill, this was meant to be the perfect place to release those creative juices that are so imperative to the business I am in. I am yet to see better views in Johannesburg.

In previous burglaries, the criminals had come in during the morning hours. My partner and I, had always had to go and attend to these burglaries between 4 and 6am, away from the glaring eyes of our children.

Last week, in a Rambo-style burglary, the criminals made it at 8.30 pm. We had just arrived home from my 9-year-old’s ballet rehearsal and had come home to play a game on a new-release television game called Wii. We were laughing and happy, when the call from the security came in. I didn’t expect a call back from them – it was too early for the thieves. When the call came15 minutes later, my heart sank and I found myself blurting it out. “They have burgled the office again.”

It was the terror in my daughter’s eyes at the thought of us going out to inspect the crime scene only to find the criminals still lurking around and never returning, that shattered me. I am still haunted by the panic in those eyes. Her sense of self and balance has been tempered with.

In all the previous burglaries, I had told myself that these thieves were taking material items and as long as we were properly insured, then we could move on. Many of my black clients have always told me that we have fought hard to be where we are and should not be forced to move by anyone, let alone thugs.

After a week of fighting with everyone (insurance, security, police) to restore us to some sense of material and security normality, we are still without alarm systems, doors and computers.

We are petrified. Like Justice, every time we come into the office, we lock up the only two doors that still have locks. The rest are tied with thin makeshift security of chain and pad locks, as intransigent companies refused to work a minute after hours last week in celebration of the prospect of winning the rugby world cup.

What was meant to be a haven from where deep creative ideas are born has become a house of fear, where an 8-hour working day feels like a lifetime.

I am now contemplating leaving this beautiful house because I fear that the criminals will be coming during the day.

A First for VC Netwox

It’s very difficult to describe the feeling I have when I see a book that interests me enough to approach the writer for a reading at VC Netwox. It’s a mixture of excitement, butterflies in my stomach and absolute terror at the thought of being turned down. Thankfully, the authors always agree to come and read. In fact, most use words like “honoured” when they respond. Being the humble girl from rural country, I still cannot get used to it but I must confess, I wasn’t ready for Justice’s response either.

Justice turned me down. This is a first. After two and a half years of VC Netwox, even though my heart always pounds as I speak to the writer, they never turn me down. The timing is the only aspect that can be negotiated, and not often at that, but a “no”, never.

Why Justice Said No

In his words, he wanted to “put this essay behind him”. It has generated interest from all sorts, including the doomsayers, who would hijack such an essay to fuel and justify their own political agenda.

As I spoke to him, I was reminded of an article I wrote for Sunday Times some time back, questioning South Africa’s labour laws and how they were skewed towards employees. I suddenly found myself in the camp of unlikely and unlikeable sorts, whilst on the other hand, I was at the wrath of many black people, who felt I had sold out. I suddenly got emails from whites I didn’t know and those I had worked with at The Star, who knew me to be a “trouble maker” for being active in the labour movement, congratulating me on “seeing the light”. It is not a good feeling.

And so, despite needing counselling for being turned down, I absolutely understand where he’s at.

On the upside, Justice has promised to write a book and when it is done, he will come “crawling and begging” to read for VC Netwox. So, watch this space.

This in response to his piece, “The Unbearable Starkness of Being… Suresh“, which mentions an incident at the VC Netwox Book Club last month.

No, no Fred, my friend. You got it factually and contextually wrong about the “boy from Atteridgeville” and your “unlikeable”. Yes, Suresh didn’t take kindly to the question, but so were many people in the audience who felt the question was stereotypical and therefore offensive.

No, no, no insults either. Unless describing someone as akin to racists is. Remember a story the Sunday Times ran about research conducted which said blacks are more racist to one-another than other groups? I thought it was bull then and I still think it is now. Is Ryland Fisher, whom you refer us to, alluding to that?

You need to know the “boy” well to know that he didn’t mean to offend anyone. In fact he apologised to Suresh and later to the guests for having asked this question.

What was funny was that anybody who has read about Ronald Suresh Roberts, as Lucas claimed he had, and Suresh’s portrayal in the media as a man who is so arrogant, pretentious and opportunistic, to be lacking of any good human qualities, let alone humour, would dare to ask what would ordinarily lead to a legal suit. RSR is said to be over-the-top litigious, as you mention above, that every little thing translates to a call to his lawyers.
There has been so much fear instilled into us poor souls about RSR that if you so much as think about giving him an audience, you are warned about the possibility of a law suit.

I now hear that this has manifested into a “boycott” of the man – a debate on SABC, a discussion on the Thabo Mbeki documentary and another discussion this week, saw some journalists and commentators refuse to be on the same panel as him. I don’t doubt for a moment that they are entitled to exercise their right of association but what I find disconcerting is the allegation that they would go as far as to ask organisers to ban him from the discussion if they are to appear on the same discussion.

What I wonder is whether this helps the cause for debate and free speech. As you say Fred, you decided not to attend this session. My question to you is why? You have been in two readings with Suresh, that I organised. So, I’m in no doubt that if required, you will face the man. I think this is healthy. I ask why, in the context of what is allegedly going on.

In opening the reading session, I explained that Suresh’s book contained a lot of disparaging words about my friends. These are people whose descriptions in the book I don’t agree with. Despite this, I felt a debate between him, myself and others, who want to understand who, he and the President are about, was necessary. But more importantly, we need to have a multiple of sources on views to have a balanced view on things.
The President’s book was no exception. There are a couple of books I didn’t agree with to a point of contempt for the author and the book, but I still stomached them.

And so, when someone sent me an email that she was convinced not to buy Suresh’s book based on your review, I felt sorry for her because she has obviously slept through a huge war of words between the two of you, individually, and Suresh and the broader media. She’s one of those, like many white South Africans and De Klerk today, tell us, that they were absolutely unaware of what was going on during Apartheid.

My view is that you don’t have to agree with someone to be able to tolerate his or her views. That tolerance is indeed the test of our democracy. And tolerating those views has to extend to a point where we can sit side-by-side and discuss our differing views. But what is probably most distressing is that on either side of the debate, we do not hear counter arguments in one setting. Suresh puts his views in one setting, completely unopposed, whilst you, and many other columnists, do the same, in your own columns. And then the President, in his own column, churns out his view of things. In the end, one has to choose one way or the other and make sense of what they believe is the truth. Perhaps, that is democracy at work? Me don’t think so!

Ronald Suresh Roberts, author of Fit to Govern: the Native Intelligence of Thabo Mbeki, will give a reading at the VC Netwox Book Club this Friday evening.

Suresh has appeared at the Club before, and Netwox regulars know that he’s anything but dull. All are welcome – the event is free and open to the public. (See details below.)

As always, the book will be available for sale after the reading. Here’s your chance to snare a signed copy of one of the few titles currently on the market capable of capturing a kilometre’s-worth of column inches!

Event Details

• Date: Friday, 20 July 2007
• Time: 7:00 PM for 7:30 PM
• Venue: VC House, 19 Monkor Rd, Randpark Ridge
  Randburg | Map
• Refreshments will be served
• RSVP: Maggie Moloi, Vulindlela Communications, reception@vulindlelacomm.co.za, 011 476 9203
  www.vulindlelacomm.co.za

Book Details

• Fit to Govern by Ronald Suresh Roberts
  EAN: 9781919855646
  Find this book with BOOK Finder!

After a year of mourning, it was time for her to throw away her ugly black frock (the only one she’s worn for the entire year) and don a new outfit. I had the honour of being invited to witness the ritual of tossing the mourning clothes. Its a very private matter that shouldn’t really be discussed openly even though I did reveal a few tid bits to my cousins, much to the outrage of the elders.

I will say though, just how unfair to women this tradition is. Firstly, only women have to mourn for this long. In addition, there are a host of rules they have to adhere to during this period. They include a barrage of no-go areas, restrictions on the time she can be away from her house, the chair she sits on (she can only sit on a chair given to her by in-laws and in my aunt’s case it was a highly uncomfortable piece of stool), etc. This obviously deprives women of their right of movement and association, and for a year! It just is very cruel.

Then there’s the choice of date to perform the ceremony – it has to be in winter. Without going into too much detail, she is undressed in the open, washed and dressed in her new outfit without drying her. OK, its not in the view of everyone, but imagine being nude, in the open, in the middle of winter!

When my mother passed away early this year, my father only mourned for a month. I can’t remember him not being able to go anywhere. For him and all men of course, its business as usual, and this I don’t mean in a crude sense. I took the opportunity to spend time with him, which is always great. Also loved to see my cousins.

I came back to find an even fuller in-tray and was in time to find my sms reminder to watch the SABC interview of a very lonely figure of Ronald Suresh Roberts (RSR) in studio, discussing his book, Fit to Govern: The Native Intelligence of Thabo Mbeki, with Raenette Taljaard of the Helen Suzman Foundation. I hear that the SABC failed to secure panelists to debate the book with Suresh. The grapevine says that just about everyone asked refused.

I have a copy of the book, but havent had time to read it. But if media reports are anything to go by, it seems Suresh may have infuriated so many journalists and commentators that none were willing to engage in a discussion with him – or was it just the “boycott”, which we hear has been imposed on RSR.

Take the small report in the Sunday Times on the dismissal, by the Supreme Court, of RSR’s appeal against a judgment in which he lost the defamation suit against the paper. Contrast that to the space dedicated to the ST’s victory at the beginning of the year.

I was reminded of a rumour that was hitting the rounds early this year, that there had been a call to “boycott” Suresh. At the time, mgosi was saying there were people “breathing air into Suresh” and these were those giving him space in their newspapers or a platform. They included Ferial Haffajee of the M&G and me, for inviting him to VC Netwox.

There’s just something disconcerting about this call to boycott the views of others by denying them the space to air those views. I’m not an expert in issues of freedom of expression and speech and the like, but this turn of events, if indeed true, cannot bode well for our democracy.