“Poetry helps one to realize that it’s okay not to be okay, because it helps you to better yourself as you express what you feel. And that brings healing,” says Grant Jefthas, a poet from hailing from Franschhoek. PHOTO: Tapiwanashe Zaranyika
Grant Jefthas, a grassroots poet from Franschoek, draws inspiration from his own life experiences. He uses the power of words and poetry to contribute to the upliftment of others. In an interview with SMF News, Jefthas opens up about his love for writing and how it has become a tool for inspiration.
For Grant Jefthas, poetry serves as an escape from reality, providing a much needed vacation from life’s challenges.
Jefthas, who hails from Franschhoek, believes that in its simplest form, poetry can whisk you away from your troubles. His writing has been influenced by the observations and experiences that have shaped his life, says the grassroots poet.
Born on May 23 in 1986, on the farm Mouton Excelsior in Franschhoek, Jefthas spent his early years attending Groendal Primary and Groendal Secondary School in Franschhoek. “Growing up on the farm with my parents and siblings helped me to cherish the connection to the working class and people on the streets,” he says.
In his grade 11 year in 2002, Jefthas and his family faced eviction from their farmhouse and were compelled to move to the Mooiwater Reconstruction Development Programme Scheme. “We lived in a one-room wendy house behind my older brother’s house,” says Jefthas.
The eviction had a huge impact on his life. Despite this, he excelled in his studies and went on to study BCom in Communication Management at North West University (NWU) in Potchefstroom in 2009. He chose NWU as the university offered better bursaries than Stellenbosch University (SU) at the time, he says.
Currently, Jefthas is employed at SU in the Development and Alumni Relations Division as liaison and data coordinator. He has also had roles in Student Administration, and this is his twelfth year working at SU.
“Despite his busy schedule, Jefthas still manages to find time to write and publish poetry, a passion he holds close to his heart,” his best friend, Gershwin James, told SMF News.
Seeing his mentees growing and flourishing, makes Grant Jefthas proud. One of his mentees is Charlton Andrews, who is doing an honours in Afrikaans at Stellenbosch University and has had his work published in the Afrikaans publication Penseel in 2023, says Jefthas. PHOTO: Tapiwanashe Zaranyika
‘As jy hardloop’
Over the years, Jefthas gained recognition for his poetry, and has had his poems featured in various publications. His poem As jy hardloop [When you run] was published in Maskew Miller Longman’s Grade 11 Afrikaans textbook, Afrikaans sonder Grense in 2014, says Jefthas. The poem was also included in the new 2023 edition by Pearson Education, he says.
His poem Moordtoneel [Murder Scene] found its place in the anthology Kreatio in Motu by Kreatio in 2020, he says. Additionally, his poem Vreetsaam [meaning “eat together”, and playing on the word vreedsaam, which means peaceful – ed.] achieved a spot in the top 20 of Litnet’s Eet My Woorde poetry competition in January 2022, he says.
Furthermore, Jefthas’s debut poetry collection AfvlerkMens [loosely translated to “Broken-winged person”], was published in March 2022 by Minimal Press Publishers.
“The book has been so well received that it is already in its second print after the initial 300 copies sold out,” says Jeftas.
The birth of a poet
Jefthas’s journey into poetry began in 1996 when his grade 6 Afrikaans teacher, Henry Jacobs, inspired his love for the art form, he says.
“Mr Jacobs recited Uys Krige’s Ken jy die see? [Do you know the sea?], passionately and dramatically, leaving a lasting impact on my life,” says Jefthas. This early influence led him to attend festivals, arts events, and concerts, where he could perform and recite his own poetry, says Jefthas.
“Jefthas was never shy to perform and recite poetry in class in front of his classmates, and he would always give more than what was expected from him,” recalls Jacobs.
At the age of 14, Jefthas began writing his own poetry in Kaaps, Standard-Afrikaans and English. “Grant’s work is a reflection of the complexities of the human experience, delving into profound themes such as mental health, substance abuse, grief and forgiveness,” says James.
Jefthas stumbled upon a poem while observing dances in a club in Parow, titled Ennie Meire Dans [And the girls dance], which was initially written on his smartphone as a humorous commentary, says Jefthas. This poem ended up being published in the Ons Klyntji zine in September 2022.
His work was also showcased at the eleventh Tuin van Digters 2022 (The Garden of Poets 2022), where he performed and recited his poetry, he says. He is set to return as the Master of Ceremonies for the Tuin van Digters 2023 in September this year, he says. Tuin van Digters is an annual poetry festival held at the Breytenbach Centre in Wellington, he says.
Franschhoek’s grassroot poet, Grant Jefthas, believes that the best way to write is to “sit on your arse and write one word or sentence”. PHOTO: Tapiwanashe Zaranyika
‘Just write’
Jefthas acknowledges that the poetry market is niche, and getting published in the industry can be daunting, he says. Several publishing houses prioritize established authors, leaving emerging poets like Jefthas waiting for extended periods to have their work recognized, says Jefthas.
Despite the obstacles, he believes that his work has touched hearts both nationally and internationally. “I have received praises from towns across South Africa, as well as from readers in the United Kingdom and Dubai,” he says.
His poetry has been featured in prominent publications such as YOU, Huisgenoot, Paarl Post, Eikestadnuus, Son and Franschhoek Tatler among others, he says. His work has been showcased on Woordfees TV and the KykNet program Klop!.
Fans follow his Facebook page, Grant Jefthas Artiste, and have shared heartwarming messages on how his book AfvlerkMens has helped them during challenging times.
“Jefthas poetry inspired me to pursue my dream for music and singing,” says a fan Lena Paulse, who follows Jefthas’s Facebook page.
“I find inspiration from renowned South African poets such as Ronelda S. Kamfer, Antjie Krog and Lynthia Julius,” he says. He also admires American poets Ebony Stewart and Rudy Francisco. He finds a marked difference between South African and American poetry. American poets are direct and unreserved when writing about controversial themes, says Jefthas. In South Africa, poets write for a more conservative audience, and often write in a more reserved tone, he says.
Jefthas hopes that his writing and commentary on poetry will continue to encourage others to “just write”.