Journey to Joburg by Mulalo

Journey to Joburg is Fiction genre based on a true life story.

This is a South African story book about black African during the Apartheid time. The book is written by Beverly Naidoo and published in 1985. The book itself was published in Apartheid era as the Apartheid in South Africa ended in 1994.The book is based on the story of a young girl and her brother when they embark on the journey in order to find their mother so that they tell her about their sibling who was very ill at that time. On their way, they faced lot of difficulties which shows the results of Apartheid struggle.

Journey to Joburg serves as a platform of showing how bad was the Apartheid in South Africa and how black people were treated. The book put its focus on the city of Johannesburg as it was a city that there was lot of segregation that was happening.

The story started in the village where we find Naledi, Tiro, Dineo and grandma. Dineo is the little sister of Naledi and she was sick at that time and grandma could not do anything about that since they did not have money to take her to the doctor, and then Naledi and Tiro decided to go and look for their mother who was working in Johannesburg. This came as the fear because in the same village a baby died few weeks back. This two did not even think about how far is Johannesburg but they just embark in this journey without having anything to eat and the worst of it all they were walking by bare foot. Can you image someone who is bare footed and is taking a journey to Johannesburg? This was hectic for both of them because they need to walk days in order for them to reach Johannesburg. Since they did not have anything to eat, on their way they come across an Orange farm that is owned by a white guy. Then they have to go and steal the oranges so that they can satisfy their hunger. Then the following morning while they were still in their journey they came across a truck and the truck driver gave them a lift to the city of gold. But when they arrive in Johannesburg there was a problem in paradise because they did not know exactly where to go and look for their mother.

At the end they find a lady who knew their mother and gave them direction but the problem arises when they have to take a bus to the exact place where there is.  Since it was Apartheid era there was a law that says that black and white do not use the same transport. As for them they did not know that there was a bus for white and for blacks then probe arise as they were about to enter a bus and the bus driver yelled at them. Finally, they arrived and find their mother.

This the book review of Journey to Joburg book that was based on true story that took place in the Apartheid time.