On 6 June, Nomfundo Nyakane, successfully launched her new book Dear Gov which draws attention to the country’s deepening education inequalities and the realities faced by township learners.
Held at 4400 Mount Rosa street Lenasia South, Ext 4, the event brought together community members, educators, and readers for a discussion centred on education, youth development, and government accountability.
Nyakane told GLOBE POST that her motivation for writing the book came from both personal experience and observation of broader social struggles: “There are more than a thousand reasons I could mention but the main one is that first and foremost I am a parent and now a grandparent, I found myself watching the challenges around us, things I spoke about in the book ,overcrowded classrooms, unemployment, crime, drugs, failing infrastructure and communities struggling to be heard. Everywhere I looked, ordinary South Africans were carrying heavy burdens while still trying to raise children with hope and dignity.”
She added that her greatest inspiration is her grandchild Amani: “I find myself asking whether we are doing enough to create a country where she can thrive, dream and feel safe. One day she will inherit the South Africa we are building today, and that thought compelled me to write. I wrote this book because I did not want to remain silent..”
Nyakane described Dear Gov as a response to silence, saying she wanted to document the voices, frustrations, fears, and hopes of ordinary citizens who often feel overlooked. According to Nyakane, the timing of the book felt urgent because many people are no longer satisfied with private conversations about national issues-they want to be heard.
Nyakane, who transitioned from a corporate career into writing and advocacy, said she hopes that when readers close the book, they do not simply feel anger or sadness. “I hope they feel inspired to become part of the solution because the future of our children depends on the choices we make today,” she said.
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