South African Author Visits South Lake

South African writer Mark Mathabane took the stage at STuesday to share his story of growing up under apartheid in the ghettos in South Africa.

Mathabane shared with the students how he slept on cardboard in his home that did not have electricity or running water and was located in a one-square mile city with a population of over 200,000.

He also shared stories of brutal police raids, poverty and his mother's determination to help him succeed.

Students in 11th grade at South Lake read Mathabane's best selling book, Kaffir Boy, and were so moved by it that the school sought out the opportunity to bring him in to speak to all of our students, according to English teacher Rebecca Schroll.

"You have the opportunity to realize your dreams," he told the students. "The opportunity starts here (at South Lake)."