I Did Not Die

by Tebello Mzamo

Botho Pere finds work as a miner in South Africa and he has to leave his wife, Nthatisi, and their two children in Lesotho. There are secrets threatening to unravel the delicate thread that has been holding their family together. And though some of Botho’s troubles are of his own making, others are rumoured to be caused by witchcraft.

I Did Not Die is a story about the realities of a mineworker and his family.

Genres: South Africa, Lesotho

Unknown Binding

Published February 1, 2023

Reviews

[Lorraine · Rating 3 out of 5]

I DID NOT DIE, Tebello Mzamo. This debut offering started off slow, and gradually built momentum. Botho leaves his family in Lesotho for mine work in Rustenburg, South Africa. The narrative time is almost twenty years in which Nthatisi, his wife, has to take care of their kids. The impact of migrant labour on Botho's family is evident, and this affects his children detrimentally. They both have secrets as you can imagine, living thousands of kilometers apart. Both are angry. Both are hurting. But will they find their way back to each other? I am not telling...read the book 😅

I found it didactic but quite enjoyable. Botho's story is a reality for all families fragmented by the migrant labour system, and how conditions don't cater to families. The spatial structure of miners' dwellings do not encourage family living forcing Botho and Nthatisi to live in separate countries.

There are some racy scenes, otherwise I would have loved for our sixteen year old to read it.

Congratulations, Tebello.

[Pebi_books · Rating 3 out of 5]

The story is well written I'll give it that.

I loved Nthatisi (Botho's wife based in Lesotho) and her resilient spirit. Mme wanted nothing more than to keep her head afloat and survive. She didn't allow for her circumstances to weigh her down and keep her there. She fought for her children and chose to stick by them.

Jemina (Botho's side chick based in South Africa) on the other hand is a different kind of woman. She seemed put together and firm until Botho made it into the picture. She has her own traumas to overcome and clearly carried them into her relationships. It's sad that she couldn't see what her trauma was doing to her son or relationship with Botho for that matter.

Botho..what does one say about such men? He was a coward - dude gave up easily and I couldn't stand it. He was selfish in his expectations towards Nthatisi and Jemina. Don't get me started on the treatment he gave Nthatisi as his wife. This woman was where he went back to when he was dry and out always with empty promises. And in the end his relationship with his children suffered too.

The back and jumping of timelines was a bit of a brain workout but I liked how we had a chance to hear the children speak. In the end even Peter had a moment to tell us about his childhood and being raised by Jemina under the watchful (and resentful) eyes of his Father.

It was an interesting story with a bit of mystery with Ntate Mokoto and his witching. It read like a classic SAn book written in the times past. Just something familiar and rooted in South African Life.

[Jayne Bauling · Rating 3 out of 5]

At the heart of this debut novel is an unflinching and intimate look at the incredibly difficult lives of migrant workers, and the families they leave behind – the fall-out from long absences from home, the moral dilemmas, the ceaseless struggle.
Botho is from Lesotho, working on the mines in South Africa, his family remaining at home and not even able to count on Christmas or Easter visits from Botho. The author doesn’t shy away from her subject, creating real, flawed, and vulnerable characters.

[Tiah]

~Her hair which had been relaxed for Christmas, was now shaved off because it was not allowed at her primary school.~

~Only a woman who can relate to our struggles can see and hear us.~

~For a long time, she had been thinking about what it was that she wanted in her marriage. But even now, she still did not know.~

~She had wasted a long time trying to recreate the things she'd lacked in her childhood. She could admit that to herself now.~

~I write sometimes, when I feel my heart breaking.~

~They will hear from the horse's mouth when I say this is where it all happened.~

[Tutankhamun18 · Rating 3 out of 5]

In this story we follow the life of a mine worker, who tires to further his life and get an advance certificate, but instead makes his mistress in South Africa pregnant and ends up not being able to provide for either family. I enjoyed hearing from the perspective of his wife Nthatisi and his mistress, Jemina and even at the end from his children, to hear how it felt having such a father.

In the end the novel felt a little like not too much happend and also that the pserpective of Nthatisi fell away after around two thirds.

Some very good elements, that did not quite come together.

[Keitumetse Taunyane · Rating 4 out of 5]

Easy read. Interesting getting a look into the miners life. The ending was confusing and felt rushed. Otherwise I enjoyed this book!

[Mark Berney · Rating 3 out of 5]

A very decent debit novel, a pleasant surprise, touches on the strengths of the human spirit when faced with adversity. Would recommend

[Maniki_021 · Rating 5 out of 5]

The story revolves around the lives of Botho Pere, his wife Nthatisi, and their children. Botho is employed as a miner and is also involved with Jemina, his mistress. Jemina carries her own emotional baggage from childhood trauma, which significantly impacts her relationship with Botho. She had hoped that he would eventually leave his wife for her, but complications arise when she becomes pregnant, making it difficult for Botho to divide his time between her and his family in Lesotho. To manage this, he alternates between spending time with his wife and mistress during holidays. When Nthatisi discovers her husband's infidelity and learns about Jemina's child, she feels resentment but chooses to remain in the marriage. Botho seems to expect that both his wife and mistress should understand his self-centered behavior. All of them, including the children, suffer the emotional consequences of this complex and hurtful situation.

This well-written debut novel provides a fresh and relatable take on the theme of infidelity. The author skillfully explores the intricacies of relationships, making it an entertaining and thought-provoking read. What sets this book apart is its honest portrayal of the consequences of infidelity, offering a realistic glimpse into the emotional turmoil it can cause. Readers are sure to connect with the characters and their struggles, making it a compelling and engaging story.

[Takalani Muloiwa-Klenam · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book takes us on a journey of the life of Botho, a migrant worker from Lesotho working in the South African mines. The story highlights some of the challenges of being a migrant worker and the experiences of those who remain at home relying on remittances and the return of their loved ones. There is a good balance between Botho's experience and the experience of Ntathisi (Botho's wife at home in Lesotho). To a certain extent, I felt like the story was more about Nthathisi's journey, maybe it is because I had a lot of empathy for her.

Botho had a "mistress" in South Africa, Jemina and her story truly broke my heart. Jemina held on to an unhealthy and unclear relationship with Botho because of her childhood trauma. She could have left Botho before she got pregnant but because of her longing for a safe and warm place with this man, she stayed with the hope that he would eventually leave his wife.

Overall, this was an enjoyable and easy read.

I look forward to what Tebello comes up with next :)

[Blessing Rapotu · Rating 4 out of 5]

Slow burner, but very well-written. All the characters were interesting and very "real". The story felt very familiar, and shows how attached Lesotho's history and present is to South Africa, especially in the context of inequality, poverty etc.

I didnt really enjoy the inclusion of witchcraft, made me feel uneasy (kudos to the great writing). I would have enjoyed wanted to know more of the characters' individual stories as they navigated their relationships and how connected they all are. Still, very well done.