Nb Publishers

Debut author Lebohang Pheko won silver for Mamello (Sesotho), a “perfect tale of overcoming adversity”, with the power of education and forgiveness as key themes. Its main character, Mamello, is a young girl who is not allowed to attend school but dreams of becoming a human rights lawyer. Lebohang lives in Virginia. Produced by Laura Wener.

Carin Krahtz, author of the much lauded Elton April youth novels, won gold for Blou is nie ’n kleur nie, a story about the disintegration of a dysfunctional suburban family, as told from the perspective of 16-year-old Vicky. The judges called this a universal, gut-wrenching tale tempered with witty dialogue and humour. Carin lives in Centurion. Produced by Laura Wener.

Jan Vermeulen won silver for Soen, “a page-turner with countless twists and turns” about a popular and gifted head boy whose unhealthy obsession with a young teacher nearly costs him his life. In 2002, Vermeulen won gold for Geraamtes dra nie klere nie. Jan lives in Despatch. Produced by Laura Wener.

What is the origin of the word ‘bluetooth’? How do you have sex in space? Which UK football ground is surrounded by Bloemfontein and South Africa roads? When walking round Rondebosch Common, why is it wise not to go widdershins? These are just a few of the questions put to the formidable John Maytham by 567 CapeTalk listeners to test his remarkable general knowledge in the ever popular Rapid Fire insert on the afternoon drive-time show. Now, join the veteran broadcaster on a tour of some of the oddest, arcane and most surprising questions – and be tickled by the weird and wonderful answers.

Karen Key from SAfm had an interview with Sue Brown about her book, The Twinkling of an Eye. More about the book: What's a mother to do when her high-achieving boy - adored by his close-knit family and private school community - turns bully overnight? How is she to know that his sudden headaches and vomiting are far more serious than all the doctors insist? The Twinkling of An Eye ​is the true, life-affirming memoir of a mother's harrowing but heroic fight against her son's rare brain tumour. Brown tells her story with courage, humour and heart. Hers is a revealing, frank and deeply affecting story of the light that shines even in the darkest of places.

Juanita Aggenbach het met Johann Myburgh oor haar nuwe boek op Radio Helderberg gesels. Gister is verby is ’n deernisvolle verhoudingsroman oor borskanker en die invloed daarvan op verhoudings. Nadine se wêreld stort in duie wanneer ’n doodgewone doktersafspraak ’n skrikwekkende vonnis oplewer. Skielik moet sy nie net borskanker se onmenslike aanslae op haar gesondheid, menslikheid en vroulikheid leer hanteer nie, maar ook die reaksies van hul vriendekring en haar man, Pierre. Maar ook Pierre voel magteloos. Hy soek desperaat na antwoorde en begin stelsematig sy plek in hul verhouding bevraagteken. Hoe het hulle onderskeie rolle binne hulle huwelik verander? Sal hulle ooit eendag ouers kan wees? Hoe leer Nadine en Pierre om mekaar weer opnuut te ondersteun? In Gister is verby wys Aggenbach hoe geliefdes, te midde van talle strukelblokke, kan groei en saam sterk kan word.

Few countries in transition have managed to get a grip on their public finances as well as South Africa did after 1994. Now, just more than twenty years later, the nation’s credibility and the democratic project lie in tatters as we teeter on the brink of a political and fiscal cliff. Business confidence and investment have evaporated along with clean, accountable government, causing South Africa to be downgraded to junk status, crushing the country’s growth potential and pushing it towards a debt trap. How did we land up in this mess, and can we pull back from the brink? Claire Bisseker, the award-winning economics editor of the Financial Mail, unpacks the crisis in this accessible and highly readable guide to what makes our economy tick.