In the short life of Dr Sophonia Machabe Mofokeng (1923–1957) he wrote three books: Senkatana (1952), Leetong (1954) and Pelong ya ka (1962). He also co-authored a Textbook of Southern Sotho Grammar (1967) with Professor C.M. Doke.

In the foreword to Senkatana, Mofokeng acknowledges the encouragement he received from his friend and co-worker, Professor Doke, to write this book in 1945:

He also acknowledges the assistance he received from the maestro of Sesotho language, Z.D. Mangoaela:

This help was necessary, as it was his first book.

As he explains in the foreword, Senkatana is the story of many nations in Africa. It is a legend which has been passed down for many centuries by word of mouth, and Mofokeng might have heard it from his grandmother, as storytelling was the task of grandmothers.

For the reader to understand this drama, it is necessary to know how legends were recounted, and to compare this traditional style with the way in which Mofokeng tells the story. It can also be compared to the version of the story in a book of legends written by the French missionary, Édouard Jacottet, Litšomo tsa Basotho Buka ea pele, published in 1908.

The legend of Senkatana concerns a huge monster called Kgodumodumo that swallowed all the people and animals, except for one pregnant woman who gave birth to a baby boy and named him Senkatana. When the boy became a young man, he killed Kgodumodumo and saved all the people and animals.