Positives From Backlash Tsabalala Book Release

Author and editor Lerato Tshabalala has spoken out about the backlash she received following the release of an extract from her first book‚ saying that there were some positives that she took from the experience. Lerato made headlines earlier this month when an extract from her debut book was published by the Sunday Times‚ detailing why she prefers “to give white people jobs over black people.” Her comments sparked debate and outrage online and soon Lerato had to come out to defend herself.

But just over a week after the fiasco‚ Lerato appeared to be in a more relaxed space as she spoke to TMG Entertainment ahead of the official launch of her book. Reflecting on the events of the last few days‚ Lerato described it as “a very strange experience” that allowed her to present both herself‚ and created debate around important topics. “There were positives that came from it. It opened up discussion with people I otherwise wouldn’t have had a conversation with. It has been lovely in that way‚” she said brightly. Looking back at her book‚ which bares the warning label “Guaranteed to offend“‚ Lerato says that she has no regrets. “I am a writer‚ I will never be satisfied with anything I put out. I want to make revisions and changes. But I don’t regret anything. Could I have done anything differently? Yeah. But at the time‚ with the timelines and tools that I had‚ I did my best. So‚ I stand by my word‚ ” she added. Lerato later revealed to those in attendance at the launch‚ that she has not lost any friends over the incident. “I don’t think I’ve lost any friends. The people who are gone were never on the bus. I’ve had people that I was cordial with‚ that I am now no longer cordial with‚” she said. She added that her true friends have stuck by her‚ even if they don’t always agree with her opinions. “My friends taught me that disagreeing doesn’t mean that we are not friends. Disagreeing doesn’t mean that we must be rude to each other. That actually disagreements often come from an informed decision. Unlike those that came after me that day‚ that were not informed and was based on 800 words of a 17-chapter book. So that perspective is needed‚” she said. Reflecting on the one lesson she hopes readers will get from the book‚ Lerato told TMG Entertainment that she hopes all South Africans can become more invested in the country. “I think as South Africans‚ it is up to us to become fully invested in this country. To be critical is not a bad thing. Even in business‚ you have to do a SWOT analysis of your strengths and weaknesses. We need to be critical of ourselves so that we can get over the threshold and onto the next thing. We all want a safe South Africa and the only way to do that is to address the inequalities of the past. Ignoring them will not take us there‚” she said