Timeline

1943 – Born in Gungululu village in Tsolo, Eastern Cape

1953 – 1962
1959 – Completed Junior Certificate at Lourdes Secondary School in Mzimkhulu

1961 – Graduated from St Matthews’ Teacher Training College in Keiskamahoek

1962 – Taught at Hlengisa Primary School, Nyanga Township, Cape Town

1963 – 1972
1963 – Birth of first child

1963 – 64 Employed as a domestic worker

1964 – Got married

1965 – Birth of second child

1966 – Birth of third child, collapse of marriage

1967 – 1968 – Pursued high school certificate through Damelin while teaching at Moshoeshoe Primary School, Langa Township, Cape Town

1969 – 1970  – Completed A Levels by correspondence with London University while teaching at Fezeka Secondary School, Guguletu Township, Cape Town

1971 – 1972 – Employed as a welfare worker at the Cape City Council

1973 – 1982
1977 – Completed BA degree through correspondence with the University of South Africa

1978 – 1981 – Taught at Herschel Girls High School, Claremont

1981 – 83 – Studied for Masters Degree at Columbia University, New York

1983 – 1992
1984 – Started working for the United Nations (UN) in New York

1990 – Published To My Childrens’ Children

1991 – Published Living, Loving and Lying Awake at Night

1992 – Published Forced To Grow

1993 – 2002
1993 – Honorary Doctorate in Humane Letters, Hartwich College, Oneonta, New York

1995 – Published Kubantwana Babantwana Bam

1996 – Published Push-Push! And Other Stories

1997 – Xhosa Heroes Award from the Xhosa Forum, Western Cape

1997 – New York Foundation for the Arts Fellowship, Non-Fiction category

Awards

1993 –Honorary Doctorate in Humane Letters from Hartwick College, Oneonta, New York

1997 – New York Foundation for the Arts – Fellowship – non-fiction category

1997 – Xhosa Heroes Award from the Xhosa Forum in the Western Cape

1997 – UNdimande – Grand Prize Winner – Bhala Writers Short Story Contest and Xa ndisiy’ emsebenzini, ndihamba naye – First Prize in the same contest

2000 – Africa’s 100 Best Books of the 20 th Century

2000 – Bronx Recognizes its Own (BRIO) Award – Fiction

2003 – Proclamation (NY State Senate Democratic Leader, David A. Patterson – on World Aids Day 2003) in recognition of artistic work on the issue of HIV/AIDS

2005 – Green Accord Award for literary work that addresses issues of the environment

2006 – Award in acknowledgement of contribution to South African literature from the Department of Education

2007 – The Grinzane Award for writing that addresses social concerns

2007 – The Molteno Gold Medal for promoting isiXhosa culture and language

2007 – A Lifetime Achievement Award for contribution to South African literature

2008 – White Ribbon Award for Beauty’s Gift from Women Demand Dignity

2011  – Received the Presidential Awarded: Order of iKhamanga

2012  – Imbokodo Award

2014  – Flora Nwapa Literary Award

2016  – The English Academy Gold Medal for distinguished service to English over a lifetime

2018  – Honorary Doctorate from Rhodes University

2020 – Ellen Kuzwayo Award from the University of Johannesburg

2020 – Honorary Doctorate from Nelson Mandela University

2021  – Honorary Doctorate from Fort Hare University

2022 – Doctor of Philosophy English from University of the Western Cape

     Work in progress

• Intonga entle (working title) – Biography of Ray Alexander Simons … abridged from her autobiography – completion … end November 2021.
• Only My Truth – a collection of essays – previously published and new essays – looking for a publisher.