Zazah Khuzwayo finished matric in 1994 and went to study Electrical Engineering up to N3. She didn't finish, and went to find work. She wrote her book called Never been at home and self-published it in 2001. In March this year it was published by David Phillip. The first chapter of the book was published by Botsotso Publishers (in their magazine), and in 2000 the same chapter appeared on LitNet.
"Ngiyazi ukuthi uma ngiqala ngisebenzisa igama elithi 'ukuhlukumezeka' abantu baqala ukucabanga ngezinhlamvu ezinkulu ezigqamile abavame ukuzibona uma bedlula ezibhedlela noma uma bevakashele ababathandayo. Isikhathi lapho abangekwazi khona ukukubona ukuhlukumezeka, yingenkathi sebequlekile benjengabafile, belele ohlakeni bedlula kulolu phawu. Kodwa-ke uhlobo lokuhlukumezeka engixoxa ngalo lwehlukile. Ngifuna ukuxoxa ngokuhlukumezeka ongenakukubona. Ngisho ukuhlukumezeka ongeke wasebenzisa izinzwa zakho kukho kodwa okuwukuhlukumezeka okudinga ukuqonda, isineke namava. "
The kind of trauma I want to talk about is a different one. I want to talk about the trauma that you can't see, the one for which you can't use your senses; but this one needs understanding, patience and experience.
This kind of trauma is like a snake: not many people see it coming and if left untreated or dealt with it can lead someone to death, prison, fear or absolute madness.
Also available as: Trauma
LitNet: 13 October 2004