Journey to Jo’Burg. Beverley Naidoo
when we read the book today, we are reminded of the struggles that people had to face in South Africa during an oppressive and unfair system, and that in the end their fight for freedom was successful. But more than that, this book can help us think about other people living in brutal and controlling conditions, and how for them too, we can hope that it won’t last much longer.
Michael Rosen
Michael Rosen is well known as a poet and broadcaster, his work has won numerous awards, including the Nestle Smarties Prize for We’re Going On a Bear Hunt. He has devoted his life to entertaining children with his writing and performances and to informing teachers, librarians, parents, publishers and government agencies of the importance of supporting children’s books. Michael’s contribution to the world of children’s books was recognised in 2007 when he was appointed the Children’s Laureate.
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Can you imagine having to live apart from your parents for most of your childhood?
In South Africa for a long time the law forced many parents and children apart. Many fathers and mothers from the countryside had to go away to towns and cities to work. Their children had to stay behind. For this was the land of apartheid – where the broken families were all black and the people who made the laws were white. We didn’t often hear about the children who were cut off from their parents. We only got a glimpse of them through a short news item now and then.
Another report told of a boy who had always lived with his mother until he was caught up in a police raid and taken hundreds of miles away.
It will take a long time to repair the damage of apartheid. Journey to Jo’burg may help you understand why. But many people have planted their hopes, like seeds. now they need to work hard at helping them grow.
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CONTENTS
Copyright
Why You’ll Love This Book By Michael Rosen
Map
Chapter One – Naledi’s Plan
Chapter Two – The Road
Chapter Three – Oranges!
Chapter Four – Ride on a Lorry
Chapter Five – The City of Gold
Chapter Six – A New Friend
Chapter Seven – Mma
Chapter Eight – Police
Chapter Nine – The Photograph
Chapter Ten – Grace’s Story
Chapter Eleven – Journey Home
Chapter Twelve – The Hospital
Chapter Thirteen – Life and Death
Chapter Fourteen – Waiting
Chapter Fifteen – Hope
Footnotes
More than a Story
About the Author
Also by the same author
About the Publisher
Naledi and Tiro were worried. Their baby sister Dineo was ill, very ill. For three days now, Nono their granny had been trying to cool her fever with damp cloths placed on her little head and body. Mmangwane1, their aunty, made her take sips of water, but still their sister lay hot and restless, crying softly at times.
“Can’t we take Dineo to the hospital?” Naledi begged, but Nono said Dineo was much too sick to be carried that far. The only hospital was many miles away, and Naledi also knew they had no money to pay a doctor to visit them. No one in the village had that much money.
“If only Mma2 was here,” Naledi wished over and over as she and Tiro walked down to the village tap with their empty buckets. She clutched tightly at the coins in her hand.
Each morning the children had to pass the place of graves on their way to buy the day’s water and only last week another baby in the village had died. It was always scary seeing the little graves, but especially this fresh one now.
As they came nearer, Naledi fixed her eyes on the ground ahead, trying not to look, trying not to think. But it was no use. She just couldn’t stop herself thinking of her own little sister being lowered into a hole in the ground.
Finally Naledi could stand it no longer. When they had returned with the water, she called Tiro to the back of the house and spoke bluntly.
“We must get Mma, or Dineo is going to die!”
“But how?” Tiro was bewildered. Their mother worked and lived in Johannesburg, more than 300 kilometres away.
“We can get to the big road and walk,” Naledi replied calmly.
It was the school holidays now, but in term-time it took the children more than an hour to walk to school each day, so they were used to walking. Naledi wasn’t going to let herself think how much longer it would take to get to Johannesburg.
However, Tiro was not so sure.
“But Nono doesn’t want us to worry Mma and I know she won’t let us go!”
“That’s just it,” Naledi retorted quickly. “Nono and Mmangwane keep saying Dineo will be better soon. You heard them talking last night. They say they don’t want to send Mma a telegram and frighten her. But what if they wait and it’s too late?”
Tiro thought for a moment.
“Can’t we send Mma a telegram?”
“How can we if we haven’t the money? And if we borrow some, Nono will hear about it and be very cross with us.”
It was clear that Naledi had made up her mind – and Tiro knew his sister. She was four years older than him, already thirteen, and once she had decided something, that was that.
So Tiro gave up reasoning.
The children went to find Naledi’s friend Poleng, and explained. Poleng was very surprised but agreed to