Author’s journey celebrated at book launch
From having to provide for his family at the age of 10 to leaving home at 17 to find work in Durban to holding a Master’s degree and becoming a published author, Wanda Zondi’s life reads like a classic rags to riches story.
Zondi, now a captain in the SA army, was born into abject poverty and lost his father at a very young age.
On Tuesday he celebrated the launch of his first book, No Easy Battle, which chronicles his childhood and youth in Mhlanga village in rural Libode within Nyandeni municipality.
He was joined by Ngqeleniborn EC Cogta chief director and historian Malibongwe Ngcai, who also launched his first published book, Mpondoland, the Navigation of History, which details the evolution of the AmaMpondo nation, critical milestones in its development and contributions by various role players.
The launches, hosted by the Nyandeni municipality at Dan’s Lodge on Tuesday, were attended by sports, recreation, arts & culture MEC Fezeka Nkomonye, Western Mpondoland King Ndamase Ndamase and
OR Tambo district mayor Thokozile Sokanyile.
Now a father of two, Zondi told journalists at the event how, when he first reached Durban as a teenager, he had slept under a bridge without food for several days until he bumped into someone from his home village who took him in.
He said he had dreamt of joining the army and becoming a soldier since he was little, but it was only after several years of applying that he was accepted.
“With this book, I want to encourage anyone out there that no matter whether you are poor or not, you are going through something. Never give up and keep digging. Eventually it is going to work out.”
Ngcai, 51, who hails from Nomcamba village, said his book not only dealt with the history of AmaMpondo, but its customs as well.
He said he wrote it in English to accommodate everyone.
Nyandeni mayor Mesuli Ngqondwana said they were excited by the work of two of their sons and were hoping to have the books on library shelves soon.
Nkomonye said it was important for black people to document their own stories and her department had committed to assisting 100 writers in the province to publish this year.
King Ndamase Ndamase was delighted with Ngcai’s book, saying some other books about the AmaMpondo were littered with inaccuracies.
Never give up and keep digging. Eventually it is going to work out