I am called Likho, but my full name is Likho Ithemba Kapesi. My name simply means, ‘There is hope’. There is an extraordinary story behind my name. The name was given to me by my grandmother. Oh, how I miss that strong and honourable lady. She gave me the name Likho because she had hopes that one day I would get educated and get us out of the pool of poverty we are currently swimming in. She didn’t just want me to be educated, in fact she wanted me to be a leader. She loathes the racism that is happening in our beautiful country. She wants to bring together all the South African races so we can be united in our diversity, so that we can see the progress we want to see.

My grandmother gave me my name because she was very devastated about our leaders who pretend to take great interest in our people but who break the constitution of the Republic of South Africa. She wants me to be a leader and unite South Africans. She wants me to serve the interests of the majority and change the lives of all South Africans but especially the poorest of the poor.

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This piece of writing was created as part of the WritingMe Writing Clubs with Sophumelela High School, Western Cape. Find out more here.