MATANGARI - Thovhele Midiyavhathu Tshivhase presented a portable computer system to the value of R20 000 to young Tendani Makwarela of Matangari-Tshiawelo Village at Ndidivhani Primary School last Friday.

Matangari-Tshiawelo is a dusty village just outside Makonde and is under the leadership of Vhamusanda Avhatakali Luvhaivhai Tshivhase. Tendani Makwarela (13), a Grade 8 learner at Thengwe High School celebrated her achievement of being part of a group of children who wrote a storybook entitled "Ek en my Mense".

Tendani's story was included in this book, together with eleven other stories from talented South African Children from different cultures. Tendani was in Grade 7 at Ndidivhani Primary School, when she entered the competition. According to Mrs Daisy Nengudza, Tendani's interest to write the book was stimulated after a friend of Mrs Nengudza, Tendani Madima contacted her with the message that a Dutchman wanted to write a book about rural lives.

"Tendani is my best friend and he is also a friend of the Dutchman, Han Lance who is now living in Cape Town. Tendani phoned me and told me that I must look for a bright pupil at Matangari who can be able to compile a book, and I chose Tendani Makwarela who was my learner last year," she said.

Nengudza told Mirror that the book was launched on April 27 in Johannesburg. The book is believed to be available at all libraries countrywide. The book is composed of 12 stories based on different cultures in South Africa. Mr MP Madzema and Mr MP Nemavhulani, Tendani's former teachers at Ndidivhani Primary School also told Mirror that Tendani was one of the star pupils they have ever taught. Furthermore, she has potential to achieve more in the future.

Mr MS Mukhavhuli, the Deputy Director General of Education in Limpopo Province stated that Tendani is now an adult in mind and has landed in the world of writing legends such as Shakespeare, Prof Eskia Mphahlele and Maitele Nevhutalu and many more. "We are very proud of you and you did great to the Limpopo Province as a whole, so I just want to say that this must not be the first and the last book from Tendani, we want more books from her."