Duduza author craves recognition for his town

Tears of Nigel draws the spotlight on the rich history of the ‘now forgotten’ Nigel.
“I wrote the book because I believe that this is the kind of history that young people should be learning at school.
“So many great things happened in Nigel, yet the town does not get the recognition it deserves,” explained the book’s author Cleopas Mkhondwane.
The 78-year-old Duduza resident was born in Chatterston, in Nigel.
The township was later moved to Duduza.
He started writing the book in 2012 and completed it in 2021.

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“In 1947, one of the seven mines in Nigel called Sub-Nigel, produced the best quality gold in the country.
“King George came from England to see what had been dug up here. But what did we get from that?
“They just took the gold and left,” he laments.
Mkhondwane also remembers how in 1960, when he was in Form One (Grade Eight), there was no matric offered in any school from Alexandra Standerton.
“People would come from afar to complete their secondary schooling in Chatterston.
“But today we don’t have any tertiary institutions in Duduza,” he added.

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The author stated that the town also made a great contribution to the country’s soccer culture.
“United Buccaneers was established in Nigel and was later sold and renamed Benoni United.
“Moroka Swallows was established by some of Nigel’s residents, including Difference Mbanya and Calton Moloi, in 1947.
“But in 2010, no world cup team came to train in or our around our town.”
Mkhondwane hopes that the knowledge in his book will inspire South Africans to take a fresh look at the town.
He believes that this could lead to more investment opportunities as well.
Anyone interested in buying the book can contact Thembi Mkhondwane 073 534 9082.

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