Book Review

Freedom at Last by Tasneem Pochee
Review by Aishah Moga

An inspiring story, which travels through South Africa’s difficult times. A very dedicated author, Tasneem Pochee has placed enormous effort into her first book Freedom at Last.

The development of this book was massive, researching, interviewing apartheid activists and understanding things you had never seen. With the interview with Mohammed Sujee, surely that would have helped.

This book contains simple language and an understandable story for children. It is also a beneficial book for parents to read to their young ones. Reading this book, children would extract the true essence of Apartheid life and an introduction to democracy. Relating a story of an African boy who grew up in South Africa and relating his distressing experiences. The reader would actually feel desolate.

The story begins with Sipho, the main character living very poorly in Sharpville. Thereafter telling us a bit of his family’s hardships, Sipho had gone through difficulties in school, at home and socially.

It is a very factual story, accurate dates are mentioned of important events, such as, “In 1990 the whites and blacks united to get a free life and in 1994 everybody including the blacks were allowed to vote.”
A moderate ending, not a very happy ending to a story but in reality, Apartheid isn’t a easy life to forget. The issue of the TRC (Truth and Reconciliation Commission) is brought in, adding important information to the story.

To get the true essence you will have to read Freedom at Last.