Vanessa Govender details her first few years living in a village in South Africa in her latest book, “The Village Indian”, offering all the gossip, scandals and heartfelt moments of community spirit, showing that our towns are as diverse as we are.
Western Cape, South Africa (07 August 2025) – Vanessa Govender, an award-winning journalist, doesn’t hold back in her tell-all about living in small-town South Africa. The titillating* read was hard to put down, and while no direct names were used, the gossip included in the book makes for a riveting read. But it’s also all the heartfelt moments between the “goss” that make this your next book to buy.
Before I start this review, I need to personally thank Vanessa for finally giving me a reason to use the word titillate on the Good Things Guy platform. Several years ago, I was challenged to include it in a piece, as a joke, but sharing good news doesn’t quite lend itself to the use of such an interesting verb, until now. Now, as Spanner-Bob would say, let’s cut this long story short, and dive into this review…
Vanessa’s second book, “The Village Indian”, covers her life from the moment her first book, “Beaten But Not Broken” is released to the public and she along with her husband and children, decide the busy, bustling city life of Durban is too much, filled with too many memories and maybe too many prying eyes, so they make their break for a small but popular village in the Western Cape.
While the village is not named, several events are which help those in the know easily name the town. But the name of the village isn’t the story; it’s the people that live within it. Where one might be confused by my initial statements, while the book does peddle some juicy gossip, it centres around Vanessa’s own encounter with villagers; the scandals, the skullduggery and also the profound kindnesses she is blessed to witness. She shares overcoming standing out by doing exactly that, standing out, making a name for herself and finding her footing as a leader and a voice worth listening to. While at times she is shunned, even blatantly ostracised, she finds her balance.
Vanessa gently weaves the tale of her two lives, before the village and after it, making connections to her early life growing up in an Indian township and later moving to Chatsworth, where she learned all her early life lessons, with those of living on “this side” of the village.
What I loved is that the book feels heartfelt and is filled with teachable moments. Vanessa’s life lessons become your own. Not only that, she shares useful nuggets of information that can be used to move forward in this life as a better South African.
Being a brown woman who exudes “Indianness”, Vanessa also dives into the topic of racism, and while unpacking her own feelings and experiences, she shares some truly profound insights about racists (and assholes). These lessons are not just useful for white South Africans, but for all South Africans who face perceived racist behaviours. As a mom of three mixed-race children, Vanessa takes South Africa’s blended beauty to heart, as well as its dark past.
If you take anything away from the book, make sure it’s that you forge a way through this life, upholding integrity.
There is a beautiful section in the book which highlights the kind deeds of the whole community. And there may or may not be a sneaky mention of your favourite good news platform. Again, not directly by name, but we are totally claiming it! When you read it, you will see what we mean.
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Vanessa and her family still call their village home and bar any more unsavoury social circles from getting involved; they plan to live there for a long, long time. And so, the antics will likely carry on for all those in the know to enjoy, as will the lessons and the endless kindness.
Back of the Book
Take one over-the-top, bolshie, city-slicker Indian woman.
One reticent and reserved white husband.
And their three children.
Add them all to a far-flung village in the South African countryside where mixed-race families are somewhat of a rarity, and you get front-row seats to a lifestyle that is both delightful and, at times, decidedly discombobulating. Told with generous dollops of that quirky, sometimes perplexing Indian lingo that is unique to South Africans of Indian origin, and garnished with hilarity and introspection, The Village Indian is a journey of the self and an authentic celebration of identity, culture and food – while not forgetting the confusion and chaos that often go with being a South African. From run-ins with deadly snakes, to everyday encounters with chickens, to sprinklings of small-town scams and skulduggery, mischievous point scoring and attempted coups d’état, this book provides the tea for endless titillation.
And in this village, far, far away – meshugas aside – there is the unmistakable magic of a tight, caring community that knows how to display its humanity.
The Village Indian is a tale for all South Africans.
If you would like to learn more about this book, visit its website here. It is also available at all major literary retailers and online.
Interested in more proudly South African books? You can find more of our book reviews here.
Sources: Book Supplied for Review
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