Kabelo Duncan Kgatea, has achieved a remarkable milestone by winning a novel prize award at the 2024 South African Literary Awards for his novel, Tsamaya sentle ‘Tata’ Mandela: Padi ya Setswana. The prestigious ceremony was held in November 2024, in Pretoria.

Mr. Kgatea’s novel was published under the National Library of South Africa’s Community Publishing Grant programme, which supports and uplifts local authors to publish in indigenous languages. His work has been celebrated for its authentic representation of Setswana culture and its compelling storytelling, marking a significant contribution to South African literature.

“Winning the novel prize at the South African Literary Awards, makes me happy. I feel great joy when my country recognises and awards my creativity. I feel blessed when government entities like the National Library of South Africa gives a platform to authors to shine,” said Mr Kgatea.

This accolade underscores the importance of promoting indigenous languages and supporting authors who bring these rich traditions to life. Kgatea’s achievement is a source of pride for the NLSA, his community and an inspiration to aspiring writers across the country.