POLOKWANE – This 27-year-old writer from Ga-Mothapo says writing is his passion but admits to also having a business mind.
He is currently enrolled with the Advanced Technology and Training Institute (ATTI) and is studying towards a qualification as a Microsoft-certified solutions expert.
“The reason I chose to follow this career path is because I want to become a server specialist to gain relevant and expertise knowledge so that I am able to secure, as well as maintain, a variety of server equipment in IT (Information Technology), because I know upon completion of my qualification I will be able to apply the skills and knowledge I have acquired in my business,” he explains.
Letsoalo describes his literature as mainly fictional although some of the content is based on real-life issues that happen within his community.
He has acted in, and stage-played, some of his work and says the feedback he received from people overwhelmed him and motivated him to keep on writing and chasing his dream of becoming a television script writer and actor one day.
“Acting comes natural to me,” he admits. He has an eye on the locally-based drama Skeem Saam, and the radio drama, Mahlakung.
Letsoalo says he hopes to showcase his work one day, both on radio and television as he says that he writes about issues that ordinary people in the community experience.
Thus far he has written and published eight books, in Sepedi and English, and he encourages the youth who have an interest and passion for writing to write in their mother tongue in a quest to promote and preserve their cultures and traditions. His books include Nompumelelo, Ke Lapile (which he has acted out on video and submitted on YouTube for general feedback), Lamentation of a Widow, Wild Girl, Dipalabala tsa mokgalabje and Tormented Souls.
He is currently writing a book entitled Go Senyegile which he is hoping to get televised.
“The reason why I chose literature is because I want to tell the African stories that are untold. I chose to write in Sepedi because I am a proud African, and I am proud of Ga-Mathapo where I come from.”
Letsoalo is also the founder and CEO of a company called New Beginning Communications, which specialises in computer maintenance, network installation and fashion design where he hopes to soon create employment for the youth in Ga-Mothapo.
