‘This intimate personal story reminds us of humanity’s ability to
continue with the business of living, that life can be full, fun and
meaningful even in times of deprivation, and that it is crucial to
keep family legacies alive for the next generation.’ – Karabo Kgoleng

‘Razina Theba’s home on Vorster Street splits your sides, enriches
your soul and evokes all the reasons why we love our diversity and
who we are.’ – Ronnie Kasrils

Set in Fordsburg in downtown Johannesburg between the 1950s and 1990s, A Home on Vorster Street invites us into the life of Razina Theba and the vibrant community to which she and her characterful Indian-Muslim family belongs.

As a young girl, Razina Theba was one of countless family members who converged daily on a tiny flat in Vorster Street. It is here where she grows up, enjoying perfect syrupy paan and learning how to brew the best chai, where she observes her cousin’s harassment by the security police as well as her parent’s determination to hold onto their shop at the Oriental Plaza. It is where she witnesses the ebb and flow of a tight-knit neighbourhood trying to survive the forces of apartheid and, ultimately, where she learns the value of family love and loyalty, and the enduring comfort it provides.

The book offers an intimate, vividly told narrative of a family bound by loyalty to their culture, religion and each other. At times laugh-out-loud funny, and at others emotional, painful and tenderhearted, Theba’s memoir is a spirited exploration of the themes of family, racism, cultural heritage and identity.