Book Bites

Against the Odds: The Story of Rosina Sedibane Modiba ★★★ Lorato Trok, Geko Publishing, R150

Many powerful stories have been lost in the apartheid legacy. One such story is that of athlete Rosina Sedibane Modiba who, undeterred by the laws imposed by the white government, refused to give up on her dreams. Despite it being illegal to compete against white people, Rosina made history when she won gold in the 1,500m in 1977 — the first black South African female to earn the coveted win. It’s the circumstances around her win that make her victory — as a young township girl — even more incredible. Imagine laws restricting what areas you can enter, who you can compete against and stadiums filled with white faces. This biography tells the story of how resilience and determination carved Rosina’s life story. While the book is only 70 pages long, the importance of her story isn’t undercut by the length. These are the stories that need to be heard by South Africans.