I was born in a small town called Steynsburg in the Eastern Cape. I am my parents’ second born child, but my parents were not married when I was born. My father was a municipality worker and my mother was a domestic worker. I grew up in my father’s home and I was raised by my grandmother who was old fashioned and religious. In 2007 I moved to Grahamstown to stay with my aunt.
In April 2010 I lost my mother. Things were not going well for me at school at that time. I was trying to concentrate on my school work but my mother’s death was eating at me until her funeral took place. I tried so hard to accept her death and move on but what made me lost and shocked again was the loss of my father in April 2011.
I ask myself so many questions, but still I have no answers. Only God knows why, why I lost both my parents in the same month in successive years. So now I am trying to live my life without my parents, but I have one thing ingaba ukufa kona akuzukufa?
I joined Upstart last year and it has helped me cope with some of my problems. Every week when I meet with Upstart, I forget to think about all my troubles. The poetry has also helped me cope, because I can put my feelings on paper and express them in my poetry.
I would like to be successful when I am older so that I can help my sister and brothers.