Basetsana Kumalo talks about reckoning with yourself

Starting a conversation with authors, TV personality Basetsana Kumalo believes no one has the right to tell your story, only you do. 

Bassie said this at a Nelson Mandela Foundation event on Thursday where she was joined by authors Sylvester Chauke, Unathi Nkayi, Ndileka Mandela and Candice Mama, who recently launched their own books.

“There's a quote I love that says: 'Lies told into history live as truth.' It's important to own your own voice and take it back because if you don't, that will live as truth for generations to come.”

She said the reason why she penned her story was to encourage other women to rise  against issues such as gender-based violence and other challenges they may be facing. 

“To give a face to what depression looks like after seven miscarriages. It was to give a face to what a business failure, spectacular business failures, looked like. It was to give a face to what cyberbullies do. That also looks like Basetsana, all of those things have also happened to her.' 

“I too can be able to rise up from where I am. I too can be able to find my voice again and strength again.” 

She  reassured the audience  there was great power in holding on and said: “Pain ends. Hold on.”