Ngqokelela's writing stands out

Bomkazi Ngqokelela has been writing poems and short stories for years as an outlet because, she says, "people are not always there for you".

But her writing has turned out to be more than cathartic. She was recently named among the top performers in this year's SABC Radio 2000 Express Yourself Competition.

Ngqokelela, a UCT honours student in business science, majoring in information systems, finished second in the poetry category for Violence in his Lips. Her short story, Last Night I Cried, came third, earning her R9 000.

"I'm quite honoured to have won the prizes," she says, adding that she appreciates the exposure that comes with it, as writers are not always given such platforms. From as early as primary school, Ngqokelela has been putting pen to paper. She writes about everything that comes to mind, from good to bad thoughts, her own or friends' experiences, or memorable situations.

The recent xenophobic attacks have also spurred her writing. "It is impossible not to write about it," she explains.

But why information systems if writing seems to come so easily?

"Information systems is a skill I'm acquiring that I may use for a while. But when I'm 40-years old, I may not be doing it anymore, but I will always write."

An anthology or a novel is already in the planning.