Tlotlo Tsheka: Seven-year-old author dies after sudden illness

A young South African voice that had already found its way into print has been lost.

Seven-year-old Tlotlo Tsheka, the Johannesburg schoolgirl who became known for writing and publishing her own children’s books, has died following a sudden illness, reported by News24.

Tlotlo, a Grade 2 learner at SPARK Witpoortjie, had already achieved something unusual for someone her age. She had written and illustrated her own stories and had three books published before her death.

A love for stories that started early

Tlotlo’s journey as an author began when she was just five years old.

She wrote and illustrated a handwritten manuscript, which later became the beginning of her publishing journey. By the time she was six, she had three books to her name.

The titles included I Remember When, Mommy’s Secret and Brown Skinned Girls with Peach Mothers.

Her stories came from a world she knew.

I Remember When drew on memories and experiences from her childhood, while Mommy’s Secret imagined her mother as a tooth fairy. Her third book explored the differences between herself and her mother.

Rather than writing stories far removed from her life, Tlotlo turned familiar experiences into something she could put on paper.

Her books became part of a bigger idea

Writing was only one part of what Tlotlo hoped to achieve.

She wanted other children to become interested in reading and writing too. News24 reported that she was involved in a literacy programme aimed at encouraging children to read, write and explore storytelling.

The young author had also expressed a desire to get books into the hands of other children so that they could learn to read and eventually write their own books.

Her work was published under her own imprint as part of a nonprofit initiative focused on empowering young creators.

Supported by her mother

Behind Tlotlo’s early writing journey was her mother, Thatohatsi Tsheka.

News24’s earlier reporting highlighted the role her mother played in supporting her daughter’s creativity. She helped with editing and polishing Tlotlo’s work while allowing the young author to retain ownership of her stories.

The result was a collection of books that reflected Tlotlo’s own ideas and experiences.

A young author remembered through her work

Tlotlo’s death comes at an age when her writing journey was still in its early stages.

She had already gone from creating a handwritten manuscript at five to becoming a published author with three books by six. She had also begun thinking about how her love of books could encourage other children to read and write.

For a child so young, the written work she leaves behind represents a remarkable part of her short life. Tlotlo Tsheka was seven years old.

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Source: News24.