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.

Chapter 22 - Thusi The Policeman

The policemen used to patrol the streets regularly. Many people used to be arrested during these patrols. They used to target people selling or drinking homemade brew and brandy. Those who did not have dompas, or the permit for being in Alexandra, were also arrested.

My mother used to make homemade brew. She also engaged in fah-fee* (Chinese gambling) as a source of income. My father was a domestic worker. He later owned his own business of shoe repair and a barbershop.

Our living conditions were difficult. When one of us had chicken pox, in no time, all of us would get infected. The local nurses used to come and give my mom health education. There was one clinic in Alexandra called Alexandra Township Clinic. We were vaccinated against different diseases such as TB, measles, polio, etc.

One day, as my mother was busy brewing beer, police suddenly stormed into the yard through the fence......


To read more on what happened when the apartheid-era police found Rose's mother brewing beer illegaly in her yard; 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 21 - The Sewage System

Alexandra Township used the bucket sewerage system. Masepala men, as they were called, used to replace full buckets with empty ones. The cleaned buckets were greased with a disinfectant and tar. It used to amuse all the children in the neighbourhood.

The buckets were removed at night, between 8 p.m. and 10 p.m. Masepala men used to come twice per week, Mondays and Fridays. They never wanted to be known. Most of them were Zulu speaking. Watching them to do their job was fun.

Buckets were emptied onto a truck parked in front of the gate of every yard. Another truck brought empty buckets. As the Masepala men were busy, we would be playing our black mampatile game. We were naughty and used to tease them. We would say, 'Masepala, Masepala, etc'. They would be mad at us.

One night, as we were teasing them, one of the Masepala men became very angry. He took a bucket full of...


To read more on what was in the bucket of the Masepala man and what he did with it; 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 20 - The Burglary

We were a family of twelve and lived in a two-roomed house. It had a kitchen and a bedroom. The kitchen was used as a dining room as well. We rented the house from Tshwaedi family. They were cousin to King Lebone Molotlegi of Rustenburg.

In our yard there used to be a cottage occupied by a family of six. There was a flat-roofed house occupied by three families. The big house in the middle was occupied by the owner of the property. We all shared the four toilets outside. The owner locked his toilet, and the rest of the families shared the other three toilets. The toilets were what was known as the bucket system. The buckets were not covered by any barrier at the back.

There was no privacy, and some naughty guys used to pass urine at the back and peep at girls in the toilets. If we noticed any guy at the back of the toilet, we waited till he was gone. Many a time, we saw guys peeping through the back of the toilet.

One tap of water was used by all. Collecting water was scheduled at specific times. A bell would ring, and buckets would be placed in a row in order to collect water. If you are not present during that time, you may just forget receiving any water. We were all cautious about the time of collecting water.

Since our house was overcrowded, my siblings and I used to sleep on the floor.
We all slept in one bedroom. Our parents slept on the bed. The bed was covered by a screen. One night we were all sleeping, and thugs broke into our house...


To read more on what the thugs did after they broke into Rose's house while they were sleeping; 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 19 - Gangsters

Alexandra Township used to be infested with gangsters. There were two gangs called the Spoilers and Msomi. They were very dignified and very intelligent. Each gang wanted to rule the township. There was rivalry between the two groups. The gangsters were armed with guns. Matured and attractive girls were their targets. If they wanted any girl, the girl could never say no; otherwise, she would be killed.

The police could never catch them because they were good in dodging them. Had they been caught, they would have been killed because the police of the time were instructed to shoot to kill. They were merciless.

The police demanded dompas from every male they caught. If you were not born in Alexandra, police used to come and demand a permit from you. The permit gave the holder of the permit permission to live in Alexandra temporarily. Those who didn't have proper documentation were ...

To read more on how the police handled the gangs at the time; 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 18 - The Bus Boycott

Alexandra Township was a multicultural township. Shangaan, Zulu, Tswana, Pedi, etc. children played together. There was no segregation. It used to be fun and exciting. Our parents networked together. We knew our neighbours and interacted with them.

The men in our street, Fifth Avenue, formed a street-watch committee. They were known as civil guards. Every house had a whistle. In case of any trouble in the neighbourhood, a whistle was blown, and everyone would come out looking for culprits. There was a spirit of community.
Women used to belong to small groups called societies. They used to wear their uniforms. They attended these societies on Sundays.

During those times, people used to work in town, Johannesburg CBD (Central Business District). We used to board Putco buses to travel to town and other places such as Bramley, Rosebank, Sandown, and along Louis Botha Avenue. The bus fare was just three pence.

In 1957, Putco proposed an increase of one penny, from three pence to four pence. The community was furious and decided to boycott. The police were deployed in the township. They....

To read more on what the police did once they were deployed to stop the boycott; 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 17 - Schooling in Alexandra

In 1956, I went to Holy Cross School to start my Standard 6. However, I was refused admission because I came from a rural school. Standard 6 learners wrote an external examination. Most learners used to fail. The principal was afraid that I was going to increase the failure rate. I was instead demoted to Standard 5. My mother was upset by the decision. She tried to persuade me to go to Alexandra High School. I refused because I used to attend Holy Cross before moving to Pietersburg.

I passed my Standard 5 and was promoted to Standard 6, which I passed with flying colours. This proved that the education I received in Pietersburg was good. During that time, our family was blessed with twin girls, Magdeline and Angeline. It was a difficult time for us.

My mom needed assistance with the twins and so I used to help help her. When the babies got sick, I would help my mom take them to a doctor in Harrow Road, Johannesburg. We used a Putco bus to get there. She would...


To read more on what Rose and her mother used to do on the trip taking the twins to the doctor in Johannesburg; 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).