Photo of Kamva Majo: provided
Short.Sharp.Stories is a platform showcasing established and emerging South African short story writers. For the 2025 anthology, Power: Short stories that light the dark, writers imagined “power” in fictional terms – how it influences and affects us, including political and personal power, and the ever-present issues of loadshedding.
In this Short.Sharp.Stories interview, Vuyokazi Ngemntu chats with Kamva Majo, author of the short story “We cannot afford to be silent”, in which Lethu takes on the establishment to draw attention to the struggles of students.
Kamva Majo is passionate about exploring, through her writing, activism, resilience, the black South African experience and middle-class life. Through her work, she hopes to illuminate hidden truths, spark conversations and remind others they’re not alone, contributing to ikamva, the future. Facing financial exclusion at university, she channelled her struggles into storytelling, inspiring her first published short story in Power. Beyond writing, she enjoys reading fiction, crocheting, solo dates and observing people. Majo has also recently been named as a top ten finalist of the Dalro Can Themba Short Story Award.
Could you talk us through the inspiration behind “We cannot afford to be silent”?
My short story was inspired by my own personal stories as a middle-class student in South Africa – my own lived experience of being a middle-class South African. I want to shed light on the true nature of being middle-class, and just let the world know about the uncomfortable parts of the “comfortable middle-class life”. As a financially blocked student, I decided to do my own activism by writing about a character inspired by myself. The character goes from being like me – hopeless at the time of writing this story – to someone who takes initiative and who uses her voice.
The concept of “the missing middle” opens up interesting conversations about South Africa’s class struggles. What statement are you hoping to make with this story, and who do you hope to reach?
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With “We cannot afford to be silent”, I hope to annihilate the word missing in front of middle class. I do not believe that, as the middle class, we are missing at all. I hope to call out to other middle-class citizens that their complacency is not serving them, but rather hurting them and rendering them “missing”.
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With “We cannot afford to be silent”, I hope to annihilate the word missing in front of middle class. I do not believe that, as the middle class, we are missing at all. I hope to call out to other middle-class citizens that their complacency is not serving them, but rather hurting them and rendering them “missing”. As someone from a middle-class background, I have seen first-hand the struggle of having-but-not-having, the superiority and inferiority complex of the middle class. I think the middle-class experience is unique and interesting.
Your protagonist, Lethu, starts off in the world of digital activism. What is the value of digital activism to you?
“Helloooo, it’s not 1950! Get with the programme!” The power of social media cannot be denied; we see it every day. Of course it is not perfect, but we cannot denounce the power of the #. Digital activism helps amplify an issue so that action can be taken in the real world. Social media makes it much easier for us to unify our voices on one issue faster.
And Lethu progresses to a real protest. Your description of a student protest puts us right there, in the shoes of Lethu. Is this drawn from your own experience?
I’ve never been at a student protest, but in high school I did participate in a GBV protest, around the passing of Uyinene Mrwetyana (may her soul continue to rest in peace). The protest scene was inspired by that experience. I studied at Cape Town High, which is close to Parliament, and our school had to be closed each time there was a protest, especially during #FeesMustFall – and, of course, during the student protests that have become a norm in February of each year in South Africa, which have influenced me and my thinking.
Without giving too much away, Lethu ends up in the back of a police van. What are we to imagine happening to Lethu after the police van drives away?
I’d be tempted to make it a happily ever after story, but I like to explore other endings. If I could continue the story, I would make Lethu be arrested for a while and face a public trial. The government would punish her by further closing down opportunities for her and painting her as a rebel in the public eye. I’d hope she would continue to rebel in some way; it would be interesting if things did not get better for her, but she would still find it worth standing up for her beliefs and would not regret her actions. Sometimes the right thing makes things worse for you, but it does not change the fact that it was the right thing to do.
We know this is your first published short story. Congratulations! To help newer writers, could you talk us through your process?
You can imagine my excitement at having my story selected for this anthology. This story being published is a dream come true, and the genesis of my career.
The story took about two months, I think. I started in November, and I had a totally different story. I did not feel any connection to that first story, because I always seem to avoid writing about topics that I have a personal experience with. I knew it wasn’t the story I would submit. December came, and I decided to take a break and come back with a fresh mind in January. I still had hope that I would go back to study, so I did not even think that student fees would be a theme for my story. January then came around; I got the news of my financial block, and suddenly I knew exactly what my story would be about.
So, I take it the theme of “power” was really a catalyst for you?
The theme “power” really resonated with me, because I’m deeply passionate about change. I see my writing as a form of activism, and this contest allowed me to use it to shed light on an issue that affects many black middle-class students. I believe everyone deserves a chance in this world, and no opportunities should be taken away due to someone’s class.
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I hope we don’t tire of advocating for our government to do better. Apathy and complacency are not the answer. Power resides at the end of complacency. Advocate in your own way, whether through protests, your own art form or social media.
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Considering “power” more closely, what are your hopes for South Africa’s youth?
I hope we don’t tire of advocating for our government to do better. Apathy and complacency are not the answer. Power resides at the end of complacency. Advocate in your own way, whether through protests, your own art form or social media.
More generally, could you share with us three writers who have influenced your work?
My first one is Zakes Mda. I’ve been obsessed with Zakes Mda’s books ever since I first read The madonna of Excelsior. I love how his books are witty, but also share knowledge on South African history and Xhosa history. The second writer who has influenced my work is Mandla Langa. His books were my history lessons, because I didn’t really like history at school. Turns out, I like mine mixed with a fictional story. The third writer who has influenced my work is – I honestly cannot choose among these writers in my mind – Sue Nyathi, Chinua Achebe, Chimamanda Ngozi and many more.
Maybe I’m being biased because I’m also African, but while I have read many books written by writers from all over the world, African writers just have this compelling storytelling that keeps me turning pages. Their humour, authenticity and versatility inspire me in all of my writing. I think all of them, combined, influenced me not to be afraid to tell my African experience as it is.
Is there one book that stands out for you?
Little suns by Zakes Mda. I don’t even remember the whole plot of the story, but that book is probably the first book that I read and thought this is how I want someone else to feel one day when they read my book. The history in the book and the research the author probably had to undertake made me respect writing more. I think that after I read that book, I committed a little more to my dream of being a writer.
It's obvious that I’m a Zakes Mda fangirl! But his books really had an impact on me. It would be interesting to talk to him, because he does various things other than writing. I’d love to spend an afternoon with him! I’d ask him if he always thought he would be a writer, whether he ever doubted himself, what the first story he ever wrote was, and what people in his personal life think about his career as a writer.
Finally, as an emerging writer yourself, what advice do you have for new writers wishing to improve their craft?
Nurture the artist within. Work through any feelings of doubt and shame – and there’s no way to do it other than doing the inner work. For me, having read the book The complete artist’s way by Julia Cameron helps me every day to remove any blocks that hinder me from giving my all to my craft. It’s been a means of building my confidence. I’d suggest, too, finding like-minded people who are also creatives like you, and meeting with them. This helps validate your experiences as a writer and helps to build community.
Vuyokazi Ngemntu is a writer-performer in Cape Town, South Africa, whose praxis uses poetry, song, physical theatre, storytelling and ritual to navigate epigenetic trauma and to centre indigenous knowledge systems in the creation of new black imaginaries. Her short story, “Binnegoed”, was selected as the overall winner of Ibua Journal’s 2022 “Bold: Food” regional. Her short story “Blood and ballots” was featured in The year’s best African speculative fiction: Volume 3. Her work has appeared in World Literature Today, The Kalahari Review, Herri, Ibua Journal, Short.Sharp.Stories, New Contrast, Ake Review, Pepper Coast Lit, The Culture Review and elsewhere.
Power is available at good bookstores and directly from Tattoo Press: joanne.hichens@gmail.com.
Tattoo Press is an independent small publisher, specialising in contemporary South African short fiction.
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Short.Sharp.Stories anthology Power: interview with Peter-Adrian Altini, author of "Ndiyindoda!"
Short.Sharp.Stories anthology Power: interview with Mthobisi Myeni, author of "The denizens"