Kwela: 87 books

“Ek is Mara, die dogter van Bavaria Mara gebore ter see.” So begin die Sandveldse roman oor die wel en wee van Mara, dogter van Bavaria Mara en Jakop Brandt, die tweede seun van ‘n Sandveldboer van die plaas De Heuwel, teen die oewer van die Bergrivier. Vroeg al verloor Mara haar hart op Theunis,...

Gabeba Baderoon’s debut poetry collection attempts to probe the realm of the unsaid and the ripples that move between words, between people, between bodies. Sometimes the verses trace and explore details that have brought the poet to, in her own words, "arrested instants of loss or witness...

Dingz is an average Wits student – struggling with money, partying with his friends, picking up girls, skipping lectures, making up elaborate excuses for missing exams. A bright, articulate guy, Dingz and his circle of friends sit around drinking and discussing current affairs – Aids, racism,...

After burying their sister and mother, two brothers embark on a journey to the city in search of their only remaining family. On the brink of manhood, Ash must protect eight-year-old Zuko, who does not speak, his words stuck somewhere between his thoughts and his mouth. But Zuko, enchanted by nature...

Perhaps Thabang Maje should be grateful. He has a beautiful wife, Lesego, a newborn baby daughter and a good job as a private investigator. But Lesego and their baby girl are still recovering in hospital after a car crash which took the life of their unborn son, and Thabang is finding it impossible...

Albert Luthuli's extraordinary story is also that of the African National Congress, which he led for fifteen years. Luthuli's lively first-hand account tells of the repression and resistance that were to shape the South African political landscape forever: the Defiance Campaign - the first mass challenge...

In late 2009, well-known journalists Max du Preez and Mandy Rossouw compiled a range of around 80 famous and infamous sayings by Julius Malema, then-leader of the ANC Youth League. What did he have to say back then about Zille, Zuma, women (all three still some of his favourite subjects), not to mention...

In Mangaung: Kings and Kingmakers political journalist Mandy Rossouw takes us from the last elective conference of the ANC, at Polokwane, to the present day, where we’re introduced to the eight men who have the most influence on what will happen at Mangaung, and following that, in the race to the...

Fana’s eyes wandered from one corner to another. Joburg people! he thought. Why would a person buy such an expensive car but live in a place like this? He shook his head. This is Johussleburg and everyone here is suffering from affluenza. Almost every black person pretends to be rich while staying...

Thembelani Ngenelwa is a personable 20-something guy who can’t find a good job in Cape Town. Like many of his peers, he goes to Jo’burg in search of work and to catch up with old friends. After leaving a friend’s house in an informal settlement one night, Thembelani and three companions are...

Maybe Mfundo shot me that night. This is all a path to my place of rest. I am being shown my life and the things that happened to me. There was also the night I broke the window in my room. I felt trapped. I tried opening the door, but couldn’t. I was woken by Tongai mumbling that I would not be...

Khutso grows up poor in Masakeng and eventually goes to university where he meets Pretty. The two fall in love and get married. But there is no happily ever after here. Pretty has an affair. She contracts HIV and commits suicide, leaving her husband infected with the disease. Devastated, Khutso cuts...

Mokgethi is not your average teenage girl. Mokgethi dreams of going to Oxford. To study Actuarial Science. But her grandmother and aunt have other ideas, and with no one to fight her corner, except for her younger brother Khutso, Mokgethi is forced to realise that her dreams may well turn out to be...

"Die rykes kyk na mekaar, die armes moet na hulleself omsien. Of alle klein dorpies dit doen, weet ek nie, maar Allesverloren doen dit beslis. Aanmekaar. En die ergste van alles is dat hulle dit nie eens meer agterkom nie. Dit word net van geslag tot geslag so aangegee. Jy raak gewoond daaraan...