Crossing the River by Fred Khumalo

Nozizwe and her mother, sister and aunt escape a group of rebels that have captured them to be sold into slavery. In their escape they end up in the clutches of human traffickers, imprisoned on a farm. Nozizwe escapes, pretending to be a boy, and makes her way to Johannesburg to become a street child. No one she approaches believes her fantastic tale and they ignore her appeals for help.