STERN GODS, a novel

213pp., paperback, Jacana, Johannesburg, 2026

ISBN: 9781431436446

A coming-of-age novel set in an Indian township in 1980s apartheid South Africa, during a turbulent State of Emergency.

Eleven-year-old Kaathi Reddy lives in a cramped council house, navigating the harsh realities of poverty, an abusive uncle, a volatile home, and the rigid expectations of her Hindu upbringing. When her friend Losh is raped and then silenced by her family, Kaathi’s attempt to seek justice sets in motion a chain of events with devastating consequences.

Kamanee Govender is a writer, filmmaker and creative director with over 20 years experience in advertising and marketing. In 2019, she self published the self-help book Forgive This. A qualified Colour Therapist and Life Coach. She has also produced two short films. Stern Gods is her debut novel.