
The Empowered Native by Letepe M. Maisela
ISBN: 9780620335614
Reprint: Sizwe Pub., 2004
Paperback, 215 pages
The Empowered Native tells the story of Lerumo Sekhukhuni. After enduring continuous harassment and having his life threatened by the apartheid police, Sekhukhuni goes into exile in neighbouring Botswana, then ends up in a Zambian refugee camp. Eventually, he is offered a scholarship to study Mechanical Engineering in Russia. On completing his degree Sekhukhuni is deployed to the London office of “the movement”. There he keeps vigil as he waits for the liberation of South Africa. Two years after Nelson Mandela’s release from jail, Lerumo finally makes it home. He hopes to be able to enjoy the freedom that his country has won. Fate however has other plans for him.