My Personal History: A Story of Family, Struggle, and Community
History is often thought of as something distant, stored in textbooks, museums, or
archives. But history is also personal. It lives in the stories we tell, the photographs
we keep, and the places that shape us. This essay tells my history through three
personal sources: a photograph of me and my mother, my experience of education
during the COVID-19 pandemic, and the story of my hometown, Malamulele. These
sources are not just memories—they are evidence of how the personal and political
are connected, and how ordinary people like myself are part of South Africa’s
unfolding history.
Section 1: A Photograph with My Mother
One of the most treasured items in my family is a photograph of me and my mother.
I was just three months old when it was taken. In the picture, she holds me close,
with a gentle smile. At the time, I did not know that this would be one of the few
photos we would have together. My mother passed away in 2016 when I was just
ten years old. This photograph is not just a memory—it is a source that connects me
to my earliest years and to the woman who gave me life.
This photo is a primary source. It was taken at the time it represents and provides
visual evidence of a real moment in my life. It tells a story of love, care, and
beginnings. It also tells a story of loss. My mother’s death left a gap in my life that I
am still trying to understand and fill. Every time I look at this photo, I remember her
warmth, her voice, and the way she used to sing to me.
This source also reflects broader themes in South African history. Many families
have experienced loss—due to illness, poverty, or violence. Personal photographs
like this one become a way of remembering those we’ve lost. They are emotional
archives that help us connect our personal experiences to larger stories of struggle
and resilience.
Section 2: Education and the Impact of COVID-19
The outbreak of COVID-19 in 2020 marked a turning point in the lives of millions of
learners across South Africa. For me, the pandemic affected not only my academic
journey but also my emotional well-being, confidence, and hopes for the future. My
experience during this time is not just a personal struggle—it reflects the wider
challenges faced by learners in disadvantaged communities during the pandemic.
In 2020, I was a high school learner preparing for my final years of school. When
lockdown began, schools were closed, and lessons moved online. But like many
students from rural or low-income backgrounds, I faced enormous difficulties. At
home in Malamulele, we did not always have reliable internet access, and I had to
share a mobile phone with my siblings to try and access learning material. We were
not given sufficient support or training for online learning, and many days went by
without any learning happening at all.
When I wrote my matric exams in 2023, I did not pass. I repeated the year in 2024,
which was a painful but important decision. Today, as a first-year BEd student at
Wits University, I carry the memory of that struggle with me. My journey through
COVID-19 and the aftermath has made me stronger and more focused.
This source—my lived experience—is supported by news articles, reports, and
government documents that show the impact of COVID-19 on education. But most
importantly, it reminds us that history is not only about what we read in books. It is
also about what we live through.
Section 3: Place and Local History – Malamulele
Malamulele is not just the place where I was born—it is the land that raised me,
challenged me, and gave me a sense of community and identity. Situated in Limpopo
Province, Malamulele is predominantly home to Xitsonga-speaking people and has a
rich history shaped by political activism, cultural pride, and a fight for recognition.
One of the most significant moments in recent local history was the community’s
struggle for a separate municipality. For many years, Malamulele residents felt
neglected under the Thulamela Municipality. In 2014, protests erupted as
community members demanded their own municipality. Eventually, in 2016, the
Municipal Demarcation Board granted the community its wish, and the Collins
Chabane Local Municipality was established.
This story is also about identity. Our Xitsonga language and culture have often been
marginalized. My father, a Tsonga teacher, has always reminded us of the
importance of knowing who we are and where we come from.
Section 4: Connecting the Personal and the Historical
The three sources I have used—my photograph with my mother, my experience of
education during the pandemic, and the story of Malamulele—each reveal
something about who I am. But taken together, they show how personal and public
histories are deeply connected. My story is part of a bigger story: of South African
families, of rural learners, and of communities fighting for change.
Historians often rely on written records, but personal sources like photographs,
memories, and oral stories are just as powerful. As Antoinette Burton argues,
personal archives help us to “make history from below.”
Conclusion
Writing this essay has been both emotional and empowering. I have looked back at
some of the most important moments of my life and discovered how much they
connect to larger historical forces. These stories are deeply personal, but they are
also political. They show how love, loss, education, and activism shape the lives of
ordinary South Africans.
As I move forward in my life and studies, I carry these histories with me. They
remind me where I come from, what I have overcome, and what I still hope to
achieve.
Reference List
Burton, A. (2005). *Archive stories: Facts, fictions, and the writing of history*.
Duke University Press.
Department of Basic Education. (2021). *Impact of COVID-19 on South African
schooling: Evidence from 2020 and 2021*. Pretoria: Government of South Africa.
Mail & Guardian. (2016, August 4). *Malamulele residents celebrate new
municipality*. Retrieved from [Link]
SowetanLIVE. (2015, January 27). *Malamulele protests over service delivery*.
Retrieved from [Link]
Personal interview with my father, a Tsonga teacher from Malamulele. (2025,
April).
Photograph of the author and mother. (2006). Family archive.