Written by Amy Johnson

Readers of KZN Literary Tourism qualify for a R500 discount on the Random House Struik Write a Non-Fiction Story short course, presented entirely online throughout South Africa by well-known author Mike Nicol. Quote “KZN Literary Tourism” as your promo code when registering online by 26 October 2012.

Amy Johnson (AJ): What does your job entail?

Mike Nicol (MN): Right now my focus is on developing and convening the Random House Struik (RHS) Write a Non-Fiction Story short course that is presented online by GetSmarter. This is a full-time activity as there are 12 modules to cover. Other than this, my job is extremely varied as I write crime fiction, works of non-fiction, and occasionally I’m commissioned as an editor of a book. I also act as a supervisor for students at UCT’s Centre for Creative Writing, as a journalist.

AJ: What is your background?

MN: I started in journalism in the 1970s, firstly on a news magazine, and then on newspapers. In the 1980s I worked on the socio-political magazine Leadership, and that was the last time I was employed. Since 1989 I’ve been freelancing and have written a number of novels and works of non-fiction ranging from a history of the Drum Magazine journalists of the 1950s (A Good-Looking Corpse) to memoirs (The Waiting Country, Sea Mountain, Fire City) to biographies (Nelson Mandela, the authorised portrait; The Invisible Line – the life and photography of Ken Oosterbroek) to the recently published, Monkey Business, about the aftermath of the murder of British tourist, Anni Dewani. In the last decade there has been an increasing teaching component in what I do, which has been very rewarding.

Ohlange, JL Dube House,  21 March 2011

Sbongiseni Dladla (SD): How did you feel in hearing the street would be named after you Gogo?

Lulu Dube (LD): I did not know that this street would be named after me while I’m still alive, I thought such things happen to people only after their death.

SD: So Gogo, are you telling us that you did not know that this street would be named after you?

LD: Yes my child, because 2 years back in 2009 a man came to my house asking me if I wouldagree to be honoured to have my name used for the name of the street.

SD: Gogo this has taken two years to be done?

LD: Yes, in fact I even forgot that a man came to my house to tell me such thing. It is the second time I’m hearing about this.

SD: Who broke the news to you Gogo?

LD: My grandson Sobantu, came to me and told me that the street that is opposite our house has been named after me and I was shocked to hear such news. I must say that I still feel a bit let down  hoping that someone from the Municipality would come and tell me about the procedure to use my name for this street.

SD: Gogo, you seem a bit surprised?