When Sydney Motene sets his mind on a goal, he will do whatever it takes to achieve it — even lobby the government.Â
It’s 10am and Chengetayi removes the metal teapot from the fire under the winter sky. It is chilly and her two youngest boys are still lying on an old mattress, bundled under blankets. Ten days ago, the mother of four watched her life crumble as bull-dozers grazed on her prized possession in her family home. She was given 24-hours’ notice to evacuate her home in terms of Zanu-PF’s Operation Marambatsvina (drive out rubbish).
Thousands of Eastern Cape schools opened for the new school year late last month without essential stationery, including basics such as pencils and paper. A lack of planning by the province’s education department is to blame for the blunder.
Amidst all the big literary names at Wordfest, 20 Eastern Cape women are making their mark.