A third-year student from the University of Johannesburg, Somilangaye Xego (21), has published her book titled, How Broken Do I Have to Be?
Originally from Mfezane Locality in Willowvale, she shared the inspiration behind her work.
Xego explained that she decided to write the book because she felt the need to address the subject of HIV from a perspective that often lacks recognition — when someone is not ready to disclose their status to friends, family, or their partner.
“I felt that individuals living with HIV are often encouraged to disclose, but I wanted to challenge that narrative. I also wanted to speak about the different types of sexual assault that women all over the world endure.
“For perpetrators, these experiences may be mere fleeting moments, but for victims, they are defining moments that change the rest of their lives,” she said.
She shared that her book was officially published on 25 August, but the process of finalisation took six months.
According to Xego, her mother, Noxolo Xego, has been her biggest supporter from writing to publishing, with her family acting as her cheerleaders throughout.
She also acknowledged the immense support she received from friends who consistently stood by her side.
“The book tells the story of a girl in her 20s who goes through traumatic sexual experiences and tries to cope with the scars of being a victim of sexual violence while also navigating life as someone living with HIV.
“Amid it all, she keeps her struggles a secret to protect the relationships that mean the most to her,” Xego explained.
She believes readers will gain the same lessons she discovered while writing the book.
“Extend grace in all that you do. You might think you know someone, but you truly have no idea what they are going through behind closed doors. Some people hide their pain so well.
“Also, your story matters. If you’ve been sexually assaulted, don’t be afraid to speak out. I also learned that with the increasing number of people living with HIV, we need to start having those conversations again. HIV should no longer be a taboo topic, especially among us youth,” she said.
Xego confirmed that her book is suitable for readers aged 16 and above.
She added that her current focus is entirely on this project, and she is not planning to write another book just yet.
“I need to first get used to my new title — author. I’d also like to see how the book is received before working on something else,” she shared.
Discussing the challenges of self-publishing, Xego pointed out, “The disadvantage of being self-published is that it’s expensive. Sometimes, you can’t print as many copies as you’d like because of the costs. Everything depends on you, which can create some pressure. On the other hand, the advantage is that you maintain full control.
“For someone like me, who is a bit obsessed with everything going my way, that really helps.
“I also enjoy the freedom to be creative and explorative with my writing and structuring, which I truly appreciate.”
