A talented young poet from Hanover Park who has already written 50 poems and three plays, has high hopes of publishing her very own book.
Cassidy Alexander, 13, says despite growing up in one of the most gang-infested areas on the Cape Flats, her love for language has kept her grounded, indoors and at the library.
The Grade 7 pupil from Parkfields Primary was named the school’s valedictorian at its awards ceremony last week and achieved the second highest marks in her grade with an average of 85% across nine subjects.
Cassidy says her love for reading and writing started in Grade 1 when her mother, Sharon, started helping her with her homework.
“Every day she would say words and then tell me to spell them and that is how I learnt,” the teen says.
“She encouraged me to read every day and even though the library is far, we walk all the way there to get books.”
She wrote her first poem, called Ma en Pa bekly, two years ago while sitting at her friend’s home.
“Her parents were skelling and I thought about putting how I felt about it in a poem,” says Cassidy.
“But my favourite poem is the one I wrote about my mommy because of everything she does for me. She raises seven children on her own and only gets Sassa grants.
“In February they asked me to go to Parliament to talk about life in Hanover Park. I told them how it is and how scared we are because the gangsters don’t care when they shoot.”
Teacher, Eric van der Bijl, says he was so impressed with Cassidy’s poems, he made a special application at a larney school in the Cape Town CBD and is hoping it accepts her and funds her high school career.
“Cassidy has the potential to compete on that level,” the teacher says.
“She was accepted at Crystal High School, but I thought it wouldn’t hurt to apply to another school. She is a natural leader and I know that school is expensive and she comes from a poor background, but she deserves this.
“We are waiting to hear the outcome, but I have asked the school to consider putting her in the boarding school so she can (be out of Hanover Park) and focus on her writing.”
A proud Sharon, 40, says: “She has come a long way and I am very proud of her. I am hoping she gets accepted so she can make Hanover Park proud.”