Chapter 28 - Conclusion

One final thought I would like to leave with you is that if you are going to reach your goal, you must have self-determination and perseverance.
Initially, I was an ordinary girl raised and brought up in a squalor ghetto area of Alexandra Township. In spite of the hardship I experienced, there was overcrowding with nine siblings in a two-roomed house, I managed and pulled through! I still remember going to school at Immaculata High School (Roman Catholic Mission) alone. At the yard where I was staying, the majority of my friends were not interested.

Looking back to where I came from, I can only thank God for fighting my battles for me!

Born in a Christian family, my paternal grandfather was a lay preacher of the Presbyterian faith in a small village in Pietersburg known as Ga-Mothapo. He was very strict and regularly conducted night prayer sessions. If you went to bed earlier before the night prayer, my grandfather would blame my grandmother for letting us go to bed before having our prayer session. He was a typical, staunch member of the Presbyterian Church.

The blessings of the Almighty followed me through. One day, whilst attending to patients in one of the consulting rooms in a clinic in Diepkloof, Johannesburg, my old friend whom I used to play with in Alexandra came in and was shocked to see me as a nurse. She had brought her baby for consultation, and I was to attend to her. She could not believe her eyes. I think this is a true-life lesson to all young people: that you must never look down on yourself and other people! Learn from Joseph in the Holy Bible; that although his brothers sold him, later in life he was the one who fed them during the days of famine. If you use your mind positively, God will do amazing things for you, and you will live the abundantly faith-filled life.

I have never dreamed of becoming a nurse ever! Growing up, I was very scared of blood and wounds. If I saw a bleeding person, I would quickly run into the house and hide myself whilst living in Alexandra Township. I did not have any objectives about my life, but through the grace of God, I saw my life changing dramatically for the better! Knowldgewise, not material gain or wealth.

It was also during the apartheid government era with many restrictions towards the black people, but through endurance and determination. One emerged to be a better person! Seeing yourself as a community health nurse in the biggest hospital in Africa (Chris Hani Baragwanath) from the dusty streets and ghetto life of Alexandra Township! Just a quiet and humble person.

    All thanks to the one and only Almighty God!

To read more on the inspiring story of Rose's life surviving the apartheid era; buy the whole book at: https://www.amazon.com/Memories-Life-Alexandra-Township-Know/dp/1483693805 (Amazon) or http://www.takealot.com/the-memories-of-my-life-in-alexandra-township-i-know/PLID36786983 (Takealot).

Rose as a Student Nurse.

THE END

Chapter 27 - The Forced Removal to Diepkloof

During 1961, the government of the day was busy forcing people to go to Meadowlands.
The policemen were busy, and if they came across the breadwinner, they demanded his dompas.
Then without any explanation, the dompas was stamped that by a certain date, one will cease to be a resident of Alexandra Township again.
And if found there after, you will be arrested for being in Alexandra without a permit.
Many Alexandra residents were against the removal. Most of us enjoyed the life in Alexandra. In Alexandra, we stayed as brothers and sisters irrespective of ethnicity.
The government encouraged people to come forward voluntarily. Some went to enrol for the removal. The first load was transported to Meadowlands. The big municipal trucks were used to transport residents to Meadowlands. A song was even written about the way people were resisting to go. The song went like this:

Otla utloa Makgoa are, areyeng ko Meadowlands (x2)

Meadowlands, Meadowlands, Meadowlands, sithandwa sam!

This song became a hit. Spokes Mashiane and friends used their flutes to sing it. 

The community of Alexandra were powerless because policemen used guns to force people to go. My uncle, aunt, their children, and my cousin Christina left voluntarily for Meadowlands Zone 7.

We were left behind, but we were happy in Alexandra. My father was lucky in many occasions because he managed to evade the policemen.

One day in November 1960, whilst my father was from work, he met the evil policemen. He tried to resist, but...

To find out how the clash between Rose's father and the police ended; buy the book at: https://www.amazon.com/Memories-Life-Alexandra-Township-Know/dp/1483693805 (Amazon) or http://www.takealot.com/the-memories-of-my-life-in-alexandra-township-i-know/PLID36786983 (Takealot).

Rose and her sister, Louisa, and two brothers, Job and Johannes
in Diepkloof, Zone 4. Johannes is standing at the back.

Chapter 26 - The Ten Children Living Together

I used to sleep with my five sisters. My four brothers slept together. The bedroom had a wardrobe and my parents' bed. The wardrobe had a big mirror. One day, as we were sitting together outside the house, we heard a loud bang inside the house. We rushed inside the house. We found a scared Simon and a broken mirror. We asked what happened. He said he was trying to test his strength, so he sat on our parents' bed and tried to push the wardrobe with his legs. The wardrobe fell and the mirror broke. My father was speechless.
One day, my mother sent me to buy sour milk at a nearby farm. I went with my cousin Christina because she was also going to buy sour milk for her family. We used to eat porridge with sour milk. On our way to the farm, we were playing. When we arrived at Sandown, the farm, we realized that we lost all the money for the milk. My mother had given me twenty pence for two litres of sour milk, and I had lost all the money. We went back using the same route and looked for the money but did not find anything. It was becoming late and dark...

To find out what Rose did after she lost the money; buy the book at: https://www.amazon.com/Memories-Life-Alexandra-Township-Know/dp/1483693805 (Amazon) or http://www.takealot.com/the-memories-of-my-life-in-alexandra-township-i-know/PLID36786983 (Takealot).

My younger brother, Mapela Simon Rakoma.
Simon once broke the wardrobe.

Chapter 25 - Working in Westbury

Sometime later, my father got a job as a printing machine maintenance person. We were all happy because it meant a regular salary. The factory where he used to work, Amalgamated Packing Industry, was in Westbury. Westbury used to be far from Alexandra. In order to get there, he had to board a bus to Johannesburg and then take a train to Westbury. He used to come back home at night. It used to be worse in winter because he left when it was dark and came back when it was dark. We used to worry about him.
Alexandra Township did not have any electricity, and it was known as the Dark City. We used to use candles for light. Coal braziers were used for cooking. Alexandra was crime ridden. There were lots of gangsters. That is why we feared for my father.

My father was happy about his new job. He was well paid. He worked Mondays to Fridays and was paid weekly. On weekends, he would take me to town. My father was very fond of me. People used to say that...

To find out what people used to say about Rose; buy the book at: https://www.amazon.com/Memories-Life-Alexandra-Township-Know/dp/1483693805 (Amazon) or http://www.takealot.com/the-memories-of-my-life-in-alexandra-township-i-know/PLID36786983 (Takealot).

Chapter 24 - Albert Coming to Alexandra

Sometime later, my mother went to Pietersburg for a funeral. My mother with a few relatives hired a van to transport them to Pietersburg. She came back from the funeral with my cousin Albert. Albert had passed his Standard 6, but due to a lack of funds, he could not further his studies.
His single mother earned a small salary as a domestic worker. He came to Alexandra to look for work. The other reason for his coming to stay with us was that he had become mischievous.

Albert used to live with my grandparents in Pietersburg. He used to steal money from them to buy dagga and tobacco. There was a time when he stole money that my father had given to my grandfather. The money was intended to be used to buy cattle. My grandfather hid the money in the house, but Albert saw where the money was hid. He stole the money to buy tobacco and dagga.

My mother arranged for him to get an identity document (ID). As Albert's father was an Indian, Albert could get an ID instead of a dompas. Mrs Thekiso, my mother's coloured friend, took Albert to the pass office to get him an ID. She had agreed that she would lie to the officials and say that Albert ...


To read more on what Mrs Thekiso lied to the officials about concerning Albert; buy the book at: https://www.amazon.com/Memories-Life-Alexandra-Township-Know/dp/1483693805 (Amazon) or http://www.takealot.com/the-memories-of-my-life-in-alexandra-township-i-know/PLID36786983 (Takealot).

Chapter 23 - Dompas Problem

In 1960, my brother Job came to Alexandra from Pietersburg. Job lived with my grandparents in a village in Pietersburg. When he came to stay with us in Alexandra, the family could finally be all together.

Job struggled to pass Standard 6 in Alexandra. This did not come as a surprise as he barely managed to pass Standard 5. He failed Standard 6 so many times that he finally gave up and started looking for a job. It was not easy for him to get a job because he was not born in Alexandra. In those days, the law prohibited anyone from outside Johannesburg to get a job in Alexandra.

My brother only had a baptismal certificate from Pietersburg. My mother accompanied him to the pass office to try and get him a dompas. At the pass office, he was told to go back to Pietersburg. My mother pleaded with the authorities. She explained to them that he was her son, and she did not want him to be separated from the rest of the family. The officials were cruel; they refused.

My mother went to the local pastor for assistance. Pastor Molaba lived in the Presbyterian church's premises in Tenth Avenue. The pastor ...

To read more on how the pastor helped Rose's mother and her brother on the dompass problem; buy the book at: https://www.amazon.com/Memories-Life-Alexandra-Township-Know/dp/1483693805 (Amazon) or http://www.takealot.com/the-memories-of-my-life-in-alexandra-township-i-know/PLID36786983 (Takealot).

My elder brother, Mashaole Job Rakoma,
who had a "dompass" problem.

Review by Xlibris

Memoir shows author's resilience, perseverance

Rose Mmatsatsi Rakoma Llale imparts story of hardship and success, inspiring readers

JOHANNESBURG, South Africa - For many years, the citizens of South Africa have been divided due to the apartheid system. The racial divide may have ended now, but the scars of the past cannot be easily removed. Author Rose Mmatsatsi Rakoma Llale looks back during the time of the apartheid era and shares a touching story of rising over trials and poverty through her memoir, "The Memories of My Life in Alexandra Township I Know". 

Looking back to her childhood years, Llale narrates how her family had struggled with poverty, with her parents making both ends meet while keeping everyone together. Advancing to her teenage and adult years, Llale becomes a picture of optimism as she studied, earned her degree and worked her way to building her own family.

Honest and raw, Llale's account of growing up in Alexandra Township during the apartheid era shows readers the undeniable contrast of life in the urban and the rural areas. Written with such passion to share and inspire, "The Memories of My Life in Alexandra Township I Know" is one testimony of a woman rising over life's tough challenges.

"The Memories of My Life in Alexandra Township I Know"

By Rose Mmatsatsi Rakoma Llale

Softcover| 6 x 9in | 89 pages | ISBN 9781483693804

E-Book | 89 pages | ISBN 9781483693811

Available at Amazon and Barnes & Noble

About the Author

Rose Mmatsatsi Llale (nee Rakoma) is the first daughter of the late Josiah Rakoma and the late Hendrica Rakoma. She resided in Alexandra Township, Johannesburg, South Africa. She was married to the late Amos Mokone Llale, who passed away in 1992. They were blessed with four daughters, and two granddaughters. Llale first qualified as a higher primary school teacher in 1962. She taught for only nine months in 1963. Then in October 1963, she enrolled as a student nurse at Pretoria General Hospital. In 1968, she qualified as a midwife at Baragwanath Hospital. In 1977, she qualified as an ophthalmic nurse at St. John Eye Hospital in Johannesburg. In 1980, she obtained primary health care nursing diploma at Soweto Community Health Centres in Johannesburg and obtained a BCUR nursing degree in 1986 with the University of South Africa. From December 1999 to November 2000, she worked at a nursing home in Glasgow, Scotland. In the year 2002, she worked in Northampton's Rushden Nursing Home, and for the last six months, she worked in Wales' Nursing Home. At present, she is retired and is doing sessional nursing at Baragwanath's St. John Eye Hospital section.