Spotlight | The Thing with Zola by Zibu Sithole

"An entertaining fast-paced tale about the extreme sports of umjolo, finding meaningful work and chasing life aspirations. Zola is an unforgettable character - you can't help but root for her!" - Karabo Kgoleng



The Thing with Zola

by Zibu Sithole

Book cover for The Thing with Zola

Twenty-nine-year-old Zola has spent the past ten years working and studying in Europe, thanks to a series of high school bursaries and opportunities that allowed her to escape the hardships of South Africa.

But when her visa finally expires and there are no further prospects in sight, she has no choice but to leave behind her life, lover and the dreams she has begun to build in Germany and return home to an uncertain future.

The Thing with Zola is a humorous and sexy beach read about a young woman navigating the working world, family politics and an unexpected office romance, all while trying to figure out her place in a country that no longer feels like home. Basically, it's complicated.