The GoldDiggers: A Novel

Sue Nyathi

May 2019 · Pan Macmillan South africa

About this ebook

It’s 2008 and the height of Zimbabwe’s economic demise. A group of passengers is huddled in a Toyota Quantum about to embark on a treacherous expedition to the City of Gold. Amongst them is Gugulethu, who is hoping to be reconciled with her mother; Dumisani, an ambitious young man who believes he will strike it rich, Chamunorwa and Chenai, twins running from their troubled past; and Portia and Nkosi, a mother and son desperate to be reunited with a husband and father they see once a year.

They have paid a high price for the dangerous passage to what they believe is a better life; an escape from the vicious vagaries of their present life in Bulawayo. In their minds, the streets of Johannesburg are paved with gold but they will have to dig deep to get close to any gold, dirtying themselves in the process.
Told with brave honesty and bold description, the stories of the individual immigrants are simultaneously heart-breaking and heart-warming.

Ratings and reviews

Having devoured this novel in less than 24 hours, it is definitely a page turner. However, it was more than the drama that drew me in While reading I developed a desire to dive deeper into the realities of those who would risk it all for the possibility of a better life on foreign soil. Reading the novel ignited an interest to learn more about the lives of those whose desperation lead to making risky decisions, but also to understand the political situations that are causing the dire circumstances for some. The author has done her homework, and created a novel that will hopefully lead to impactful conversations and actions on behalf of those who have suffered needlessly.

About the author

Sue Nyathi was born and raised in Bulawayo and resides in Johannesburg. Her debut novel, The Polygamist, was published in 2012. The GoldDiggers was first published in 2018, receiving much acclaim from readers and critics alike.