My encounter with Zubeida Jaffer

She was probably the smallest person in the room.

But, you know what Shakespeare said about small people: "And though she be little, she is fierce."

Although Zubeida Jaffer did not come across as particularly fierce, there was a certain fierceness that came with the stories she told.

Zubeida Jaffer is an award-winning South African journalist and writer, and generally just a very sweet person. She came to speak to us budding writers on Tuesday afternoon about her experience as a person of colour trying to practice journalism during apartheid. As a 'born free' individual, I couldn't help but think of her words as nothing other than insightful.

She spoke softly and calmly about her experiences, from being the youngest journalist at the age of 22 working for the Cape Times, to being arrested under Section 6 of the Terrorism Act for supposedly conspiring against the apartheid government. It was amazing to hear how simply following her dreams and writing about the realities of our old South Africa was so dangerous for someone like her.

What stuck out for me the most was her admirable concern for the education system in our country - something I am also extremely worried about. She gives me hope that many students will not be let down by the system like they have been up until now for much longer. I also agreed with her in that she thinks the recent student movements are remarkable, but that the violence does not make her happy.

The journey she has been on up until now is absolutely incredible, and I always think "pft, I could never get my book published" but then I look at someone like her who has been dealt a much shittier deal in life than I have and is now about to publish her third book. She reminded me that I need to keep on fighting to achieve what I really want from life.

#journalism #zubeidajaffer #southafrica