Inzol'Enkundleni!
Vuyiswa Magadla





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Isalathiso

I. EMgwali KaNgubengcuka                                 1
2. Luthand'Eyonanto                                      4
3. Usixolele Izono Zethu                                 8
4. Simdala Thina Notat'Omkhulu                         17
5. Andwebe Gqitha AmaXhosa                             27
6. Walila UBhaso                                       32
7. Libekiwe Izembe Komdala Nakomncinane                37
8. Kahle Ngamatye                                      43
9. Kuyayiwa EZulwini                                   52
10. Isiguqo Sengxelo Yezono                             63
11. "Mh-h.  Hayi Kunzima."                               72
12. Inzol'Enkundleni!                                   79

Isinikezelo

Ndiyinikezela le ncwadi kumakhulu wam osel'ekwelemimoya uEmma Vangile Njobe, ngothando lwakhe nangokundithiya igama.  Makaphumle ngoxolo.

	Ilizwi Lombulelo

Le ncwadi ibingasokuze iphumelele ibe yile nto iyiyo
namhlanje ngaphandle kosiba, ingqondo kwakunye namava kaNksk  Kholeka Moropa. Kuye ndithi qobokazana alilali emzini kuba lingenjenjalo; yazini kunyembelekile.
Ndigqithisa umbulelo ongazenzisiyo kumzishicilelo wam ngokubanzi ngamazwi enkuthazo, ngenyameko yokuqingqisa umbhali ondim.  Mageba! uyamaz'ubawo.
Ndinganetyala elibomvu ukuba ndingamlibala uNdileka ngokuncedisa apha naphaya ekubhalweni nasekulungisweni kwale ncwadi.

V. Magadla
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EMgwali KaNgubengcuka

UPhumezo nowakwakhe uMaTshabalala bazala unyana wabamnye kuphela, baza ngenxa yobunkenenkene bempilo kaMaTshabalala, nokucetyiswa ngabezempilo, bathabatha ithuba elide ukwalekelisa unyana wabo uZakhele.  Bathi bakuyinikwa imvume yokufumana omnye umntwana ngoogqirha awayephantsi kwempembelelo zabo uMaTshabalala, bazala umntwana oyintombazana baza bamthiya igama elinguThozama.
Bakhula kakuhle abantwana bakaPhumezo umfo wakwaKhesa uNozulu.  Wayengumfo onamabhongo uPhumezo kwaye wayeyithetha ngokungafihlisiyo into yokuba yayingumnqweno kwanomthandazo wakhe ukuba bafunde bade bayityekeze abantwana bakhe imfundo.  Ngokwenene uThixo ova izikhungo wawuphendula umthandazo womfo wakwaNozulu kuba bobabini abantwana bakhe baliphumelela ibanga lematriki, elowo ngexesha lakhe elifanelekileyo njengoko babeshiyana kakhulu ngeminyaka.  Ayekho noko amaginxiginxi aqhelekileyo kuwo nawuphina umzi xa kukhuliswa abantwana.  Umzekelo omhle wokubambisana kwabazali ekuqeqesheni abantwana wanqwenelwa ngabo bonke- abantu kuloo lali yaseSigoga kwisithili saseMaluti.
Akuba ephumelele eyeshumi uZakhele kwavunyelwana ngumzi wakwaTyelomfula (ifani kaPhumezo) ukuba aye kufundela ubutitshala eMgwali kaNgubengcuka

(Clarkebury). uPhumezo wabona kuyimfuneko ukuba awele imilambo enamagama unyana wakhe, njengoko wayengazange alifumane elo thuba ngexa wayesenza ibanga lematriki.  Kwakunyanzelekile ke ngoko ngokwezimvo zikayise ukuba aphume unyana wakhe ukuze avuleke ingqondo.
Ndingaba andithethi nyaniso mfundi obekekileyo ukuba ndithi wayekrelekrele engqondweni uZakhele.  Ingxaki yakhe yayisisiNgesi.  Kwakucace mhlophe ukuba wayengazange afumane siseko sisiso kwakumabanga aphantsi.
Le nto yayizicacisa mhlophe ngokuthi aziphumelele emagqabini izifundo ezinjengesiXhosa neMathematics, athi akufika kwezi zifundwa ngesiNgesi athande ukutsala nzima. lbanga leshumi walipasa ngonkosi ndincede, nto leyo eyabangela ukuba libhange ithuba lokuya eYunivesithi njengoko lowo yayingumnqweno kayise.
Esikolweni sobutitshala uZakhele waqeqeshelwa ukufundisa amabanga aphantsi iminyaka emithathu.  Wazibalula umfo kaTyelomfula kwezomculo nakumdlalo wombhoxo kuba naseMt.  Hargreaves wayengumpondozihlanjiwe kulo mdlalo.  Kunyaka wakhe wesibini eluqeqeshweni lwakhe wazibalula, wabanika ithemba abaqeqeshi bakhe ngokubonakalisa iimpawu zokuba ngoyena mfundisi-ntsapho unononophelo nowayezakuba yincutshe.
Abaqeqeshi bagxininisa babalula becacisa ukubaluleka kokukhuthazwa kokufunda kwa kumabanga aphantsi ukuze abantwana bakhule bezithanda iincwadi kwanokufunda.  Imizekelo ababedla ngokubenzela yona ukubonakalisa ukubaluleka kokufunda iincwadi ezizintlobo ngeentlobo yamenza uZakhele wayiqonda mhlophe into ababezama ukuyichaza kuba yena ngokwakhe wayebuvile ubunzima bokungayiva kakuhle into efundiswayo ngenxa yokungalandeli ulwimi lwasemzini efundiswa ngalo.  Kwakubalulekile ukufunda njengoko uninzi lwabantwana bendlu entsundu lungakwazi ukuqhubeka nemfundo ludlule kwibanga lesixhenxe, ngenxa yeemeko ezinzima zezimali.  Umntwana oziqhelileyo iincwadi nokufunda wayenganakho ukuziqhuba ngasese, ezifunela azifumanele ngokwakhe    ulwazi nobulumko obuqulathwe ziincwadi, de ngalo ndlela aphumelele amabanga aphakamileyo.  Ayeqhuba enjenjalo mfundi amacebo aphilayo malunga nokufunda.

UThozama naye waqhuba kakuhle noko ezifundweni zakhe.  Umnqweno wakhe yayikukulandela isebe lobongikazi, 	phofu ke kwakusekude ngaphambili njengoko wayesekumabanga aphantsi.  UZakhele wathi akuphumelela ezobutitshala waxhelelwa eyakha yatyetyiswa yona inkabi    	yegusha nguyise,   kwabizwa    abamelwane	nezihlobo 	kwagcotywa     kwamnandi kakhulu. Itheko lavulwa 	ngomthandazo ngumfundisi njengoko umzi	kaPhumezo 	wawukufuphi necawekazi enkulu emishini eMt.  Hargreaves.

Emva komthandazo kwasukuma uPhumezo ngokwakhe ecela abo babemngqongile ukuba bamncedise ngemibulelo kuSomandla kuba kwakude kwalapho enaye.
Zakhawuleza zafika iincwadi ezazivela eburhulumenteni 	nezazinika uZakhele umsebenzi wokuya kufundisa kwisikolo sabemfundo esephantsi kwilali yakwaMasakala.  Le lali yayikude noko nekhaya likaZakhele.










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2.

Luthand'Eyonanto


Abuzange buqheleke lula ubomi obutsha kuZakhele.  Wanikwa indlu awayeza kuhlala kuyo kwasibonda kufuphi nesikolo awayeza kufundisa kuso.  Wayekhatshwe nguyise kunye noThozama ukuya kwakhe apho ngosuku lokuqala.  Nj'engegosa ecaweni uPhumezo wabolekwa iveni ngumfundisi, wanikwa nomfana wabaqhubela iveni leyo, ekwakulayishwe kuyo yonke impahla yendlu eyayiza kusetyenziswa nguZakhele.  Singazilibali izinto ezityiwayo oozimbotyi nemifuno ezazivela esitiyeni sikaMaTshabalala abamshiya echiphichiphiza esenziwa yintliziyo ebuhlungu nokungazi ukuba wayeza kuhlala nabantu abanjani na umtan'akhe.
Inqununu awayeza kufundisa phantsi kwayo uZakhele yayingumfo owayesel'ekhulile ngeminyaka yayinganelanga kukhula ngeminyaka nje kuphela, yayikwanjalo nangamava kwezobufundisi-ntsapho, ukuphatha iititshala nesikolo jikelele.  UZakhele wanikwa ibanga lesibini kunyaka wakhe wokuqala, waxelelwa ukuba wayezakuhamba nabo abobantwana bebanga lesibini de aye kubalahla kwibanga lesihlanu.  Emva koko wayeza kuphuthuma elinye ibanga lesibini athi chu nalo aye kulibeka kwibanga lesihlanu.  Ezi zigqibo zaziza kuxhomekeka kwinqununu yesikolo njengoko yayinelungelo lokuzitshintsha xa yayinokubona kufanelekile ukwenjenjalo.
Wazibalula umfo kaTyelomfula emsebenzini wakhe, yahla 
yaqonda nenqununu yesikolo ukuba yayifumene intonga esekhosi kulomfana wakwaNozulu.  Indlela awayezinikezele ngayo emsebenzini wakhe uZakhele yaphantsa yayenzakalisa impilo yakhe.  Wayesebenza imini yonke kuba wayesithi sakuphuma isikolo azixakekise ngokuqeqesha amakhwenkwe kumdlalo webhola ekhatywayo, akufika endlwini ngokuhlwa wayelungisa acwangcise umsebenzi wesikolo.  Le nto yabangela ukuba sithi sifika isiqingatha sonyaka abe engasaziva mnandi konke konke ngokwasempilweni.  Wayenamaxesha okuphelelwa ngamandla ngaphandle kwesizathu; angaziva efuna kwenza nto.  Inqununu yesikolo yamthabatha ngemoto yayo yamsa kwagqirha, gqirha lowo wakhalazela ukuba buthathaka kwegazi kwanokungondleki.  Akuzama ukuphanda unobangela wale nto ugqirha waphawula ukuba le ntwana yayingaziniki thuba lakupheka, nakutya kutya kunokwakha umzimba owomeleleyo nodlamkileyo.  Ugqirha wamnika amayeza wamtofa uZakhele, wamtyityimbisela umnwe ngokubaluleka kokutya okuya egazini, watsho esithi ayikho imfuneko yokubuya aye kwagqirha ukuba wayenokuthi alandele imigaqo yokutya ngokufanelekileyo. . Emva kolotyelelo lukaZakhele kwagqirha inqununu yakhe yanyanzelisa ukuba afune umtu wokumncedisa kwizinto ezinje ngokuhlanjwa kwempahla, nokucocwa kwendlu.  Yayizikhathaza ngokufuna ukuqonda ukuba wawulandelwa na umyalelo kagqirha nguZakhele.  Yayidla ngokugqitha kuye xa isiya edolophini ngemigqibelo, ifune ukuqonda ukuba kwakungekho nto wayezakuyifuna na edolophini, izinto ezinjengeziqhamo, imifuno, amaqanda okanye inyama.  Maxa wambi babedla ngokuhamba kunye.  UZakhele wayezinikele gqitha emsebenzini wakhe engathandi kananjalo ukudanisa abo babemthanda bezidla ngomsebenzi wakhe.  Emva kwethuba wawuqhela umsebenzi wakwazi nokuwucwangcisa kakuhle, wawenza ngobuchule nangaphezulu engasenalo uvalo lwawo.
Kwathi kunyaka wesine efundisa ibanga lesihlanu uZakhele wathandana negqiyazana lakwaMotaung kwilali yaseTsepisong, ekwathi besenyanga ntathu bethandana nale ntwazana yazibika ukubanzima.  Watyhwatyhwa luvalo uZakhele esoyika umsindo kayise, kuba nangona wayemthanda uPuseletso lowo engaboni gxeke nasekuzimanyeni naye ngeqhina lomtshato wayengayithandi indlela eyayiza kuqhubeka ngayo loo nyewe.  Uninzi lwabantu lwaluza kucinga ukuba unyuka nengalo nje kuba sekonakele.
Umntu uyincwadi efundekayo kuba uMaTshabalala wambona nje engena ngomnyango uZakhele ukuba wayenomvandedwa.  UZakhele wayebazi ubuphakuphaku bukanina, kungoko wathi akumbuza unobangela wokumatsheka kwakhe wakhawuleza ukuzityanda igila.
Ngobo busuku uMaTshabalala wamxelela umyeni wakhe ngelishwa alalivelele unyana wabo, phofu watsho emthuthuzela ngelithi uZakhele wayezimisele ukumtshata lo mSuthukazi.  Wavuka wahlala ngeempundu emandlalweni uPhumezo njengoko wayesel'engqengqile, ecacisa ukungafuni kwakhe ukuyiva nokuyiva oku loo nto yokuzimanya kukaZakhele nalo mSuthukazi akuba sel'emenzakalisile.  Ngentsasa elandelayo wabiza uZakhele wamcacisela ngobunyulu nobungcwele bomtshato, wamcacisela unyana wakhe ukuba njengoko kwakwenzeke loo ngozi, kwakufuneka abahlawule abazali bentombazana ngaloo monakalo.  Wayenganyanzelekanga ukuba azimanye nayo kuba isuke yabanzima.  Wabangazama uZakhele emcacisela uyise ukuba wayeyithanda loo ntombi, wala walandula uPhumezo esithi linyathelo elibalulekileyo kubomi bomntu ukuzimanya, ngako ke kwakufuneka indoda iqiniseke ngalo inganyanzelwa zimekwana nje ezithile, okanye yenze nje kuba imsizela lowo wonzakeleyo.
UZakhele wayesel'emxelele uPuseletso ukuba wayeza kumtshata phantsi kwayo nayiphina imeko.  Wanyanzeleka ukuba abhenele kunina uMaTshabalala acele icebo.  UmaTshabalala wamcebisa ukuba makenze njengoko wayeyalelwa nguyise, ayihlawule loo ntombi, ukuze athi ke ukuba uziva eyithanda ngenene nangenyaniso emva koko aye kiyicela.
UPhumezo wakhawuleza waya kubonana nomhlobo wakhe owayesebenza kwaVezamafa eMatatiele, umfo wakwaMakoro nowayengumSuthu ngokuzalwa.  Wayenexhala efuna nokuqonda inani leenkomo zentlawulo kubeSuthu; njengoko kwakusenokwenzeka lingalingani nelamahlubi.
Upuseletso walila kalusizi akuxelelwa nguZakhele ngesigqibo sabazali bakhe yena Zakhele.  UPuseletso waqiniseka ukuba abazali bakaZakhele bamcekisa kuba engumSuthu, waba ngathini uZakhele ezama ukumcacisela ukuba kwakungenjalo kwanzima kuPuseletso ukuba akholelwe kuloo nto.  Yabanzima kakhulu intlalo kaZakhele kwezo ntsuku.  Wayelilolo kuba wayesithi akundwendwela isithandwa sakhe uPuseletso; amgalele ngeenyembezi.  Wayelila kude kufike ixesha lokuba bohlukane bengakhange bancokole ndaba zonwabisayo kubo bobabini.  UZakhele wayedla ngokumshiya engakwazi nokujonga uPuseletso ngenxa yokudumba kwamehlo.  Le nto yawuchaphazela umsebenzi kaZakhele, wayesuka andwanye phezu kwazo iincwadi kwakufika ixesha lokuba acwangcise umsebenzi.  Wabhitya waba yiloo nto kungasangeni kutya.  Wayemthanda ngokungazenzisiyo uPuseletso.  Umvandedwa nentliziyo eligazi awayenazo uZakhele kunzima ukuyichaza.
UmaTshabalala wakuphawula ukunxunguphala komphemfumlo wonyana wakhe njengoko wayemana ukutyelela ekhaya ngeempelaveki ezithile.  Wayihlebela umyeni wakhe le nto, nongazange aphozise maseko, waya kumfundisi emishini wamcela ukuba amkhaphe baye kumhloli zikolo omkhulu wesekethe eMaluti, baye kucelela uZakhele atshintshelwe kwesinye sezikolo ezikufuphi nasekhaya.  Incwadana eyafunyanwa nguPhumezo ngondlela mnyama kwagqirha, neyayingqina ubunkenenkene bempilo kaZakhele nemfuneko yokuba aye kusebenza kufuphi nekhaya, yabancedisa kakhulu ooPhumezo nomfundisi kwisicelo sabo.  Onke la matiletile ayesenziwa nguPhumezo wayengenalwazi ngawo uZakhele.




3.

Usixolele Izono Zethu


Inqununu kaZakhele yayihambele kwi-ofisi zabahloli ngemicimbi ethile yesikolo sayo, apho yafika yamkelwa ngodaba lokwamkelwa kwesicelo sikamnumzana uTyelomfula, uZakhele, sokuya kusebenza kufuphi nekhaya lakhe.  Yothuka yaphantsa yawa esihlalweni loo ndedeba yakuziva ezo ndaba.
"Bafondini! umntu unzulu, yhini madoda, bendicinga ukuba sisebenzisana kakuhle nje nale ntwana, makube kutheni bethu?" Yonke loo mibuzo yayibuza loo ndoda ingabhekisi mntwini, kwaye andiqinisekanga nokuba umhloli omkhulu wesithili wayeyiphulaphule ngokupheleleyo.  Emva kwethuba elide ihleli apho inqununu imelwe yingqondo, yayiphatha kuzosula umbilo ngelatshana,, ibuye ilungise iqhina layo ilimise kakuhle, yasukuma yacela indlela kumhloli owayengaphazanyiswa nakancinane bubukho nobume balo nqununu kwi-ofisi yakhe.  Wayezenzela umsebenzi wakhe ngokwesiqhelo, ebhala ezibhalwayo emana ukuphazanyiswa kukukhenkceza kweemfono-mfono ezazikhe maxa wambi zikhale zide zibe mbini ngaxesha nye athi ebamba emnyama ibe ikhala nebomvu.  Umhloli wayikhulula ngoxolo inqununu, yathi yakumnikela umva isiya emnyango, wayijonga ngosizi wanikina intloko.  Azi inqununu yayizihambele ngantonina ezo ofisi zabahloli.  Yafika yabhideka nangaphezulu yakufika ekhaya ifumanisa ukuba akazange afake sicelo sakutshintshwa uZakhele, wayibuza

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eyibuzile inqununu ukuba ingaba yayimve kakuhle na umhloli lowo wesithili.  Iingxaki zakhe ezininzi uZakhele wayedla ngokuzandlala kwinqununu yakhe eyayidla ngokumncedisa ekuzisombululeni.  Babubuhle kakhulu ubudlelwane phakathi kwaba babini.  UZakhele wayifunda ivaliwe, wamqonda mhlophe unobangela wokutshintshwa kwakhe, wayichazela nenqununu esusela ekwanzakaliseni kwakhe uPuseletso, nasekwalelweni kwakhe nguyise ukuba amenze undofa naye wakhe, watsho esithi uqinisekile ukuba isekwanguyise nalo uye kubahloli wamcelela ukuba atshintshwe.  Ngovelwano olungazenzisiyo inqununu yamcela uZakhele ukuba aye kulala ukuze bawuphicothe ngengomso loo mcimbi, kuba nangona yayingenakho ukusijika isigqibo sabahloli yayizimisele ukumcebisa imomeleze kwingxaki awayekuyo.
Emva kokuba befumene isidlo sangokuhlwa, inqununu yabizela ndawonye usapho lomzi kwenziwa isikhungo sangokuhlwa.  Inkosikazi yenqununu yahla yaqonda ukuba wayekho undonakele owayemalunga nalo titshalana.
Yadanduluka	ngelo zwi layo lipholileyo:

1 .Mazith;'ingqondo zethu Zimbonge uYehova,
Kuba inceba zakhe Zimingonaphakade.

2.	Masithi kulo lonke Sazis'igama lakhe.  Kuba inceba zakhe Zimi ngonaphakade.

3.	Wondla izinto zonke Ngaso isandla sakhe Kuba inceba zakhe Zimi ngonaphakade.

4.	Ngawo amandla akhe Ukhamyisel'ilizwe, Kuba incaba zakhe Zimi ngonaphakade.

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5.	Ezintsizini zethu Iliso liyabona
Kuba inceba akhe Zimi ngonaphakade.

6.	Kubo bonke oothixo; Akukho unje ngaye.  Kuba inceba zakhe Zimi ngonaphakade.

Usapho lwalamkela ngomoya ofudumeleyo iculo lwatsho ngentsholo echukumisa amazantsi entliziyo kubantu abazaziyo inceba nezibele zikaSonini nanini, uyise weenkedama, indoda yabahlolokazi.  Bacula kamnandi kakhulu bada baziphinda iivesi ezimbini zokugqibela.  Umthandazo wenziwa ngumninimzi ngokwakhe.  Awuzange Ube mde noko, koko wadla ngokuqina.  Emva koko usapho lwenza umthandazo wenkosi, "Usixolele izono zethu nje ngoko" nathi sibax... " akazange akwazi ukuwagqibezale amazwi omthandazo uZakhele, wabayeka baya kufika bodwa ku "Amen".  Wenza ufefe utitshala omkhulu njengentloko yomzi.  Emva koko wakhapha uZakhele wamthi tyeshe nje ngaphaya komzi nje ngoko wayehlala kumzi owawukufuphi nalapho kwakhe, kwasibonda.  UZakhele wema kulo ndawo wayeshiywe kuyo qinqununu wayijonga de yaya kungena emzini wayo.
"Ukuba kusekho amadoda aphila ngolu hlobo kulo mhlaba, liseko ithemba lokuphila." Wangcangcazelisa ilizwi watsho esiya kungena endlwini yakhe, ingununu nayo yaya kungena emzini wayo imva ngamanwele uZakhele ukuba umile uyijongile, kodwa yaqinisa intloko ayajonga ngemva, yathi yakungena endlwini yakroba ngefestile yambona esiya kungena kweyakhe.  Yahlala phantsi yanikina intloko yamkela isiphungo eyayisel'ilindelwe ngaso ngumama wekhaya.  Wafika egumbini lakhe wahlala phezu komandlalo wakhe uZakhele walila.
Yovuthuz'imimoya;
Aziph'amandla namaqhwa obusika,
Loduma nezulu kutshawuz'imibane.

Logqatsa de libalel'ilanga lisandulel'indlala,
Ewe zodlula zonke ziwashiy'emi nkqo
Amadod'abhadlileyo.

Emva kwalo mazwi amfikela engqondweni wosula iinyembezi wakhulula walala.
Isiko lesintu lokusiwa kwesisu lenziwa ngendlela engaqhelekanga ngabantu bakulo Puseletso.  Njengoko wayesoloko esezinyembezini kwaba nzima ukuba aqhutywe ngamakhosikazi asiwe kwaTyelomfula, nto leyo eyabangela ukuba amakhosikazi abemathidala ukuya kubika ehamba odwa engekho usingaye.  Kwagqitywa ekubeni kuthunywe amadoda amabini, awathi akufika kwaPhumezo azichaza ukuba ayevela kwaMotaung kwilali yaseTsepisong, kwaye ayeze ngomonakalo owawenziwe nguZakhele kumntwana wabo.  Enyanisweni loo madoda ayegqithisa nje ityala, engakhathali nokuba ayephendulwe ngandlelani na, njengoko yayingumsebenzi wabafazi lowo kubeSuthu.  Kodwa amangaliswa kukwamkelwa ngezandla ezishushu, enzelwa into ephungwayo namaqebengwana awayebhakwe ngobunono nguMaTshabalala encedisana noThozama.  UPhumezo wayehletyelwe ngumhlobo wakhe lowa wakwaVezamafa ngosuku ababezimisele ukufika ngalo kwakhe abakwaMotaung.  Emva kwesiphungo kwachotshelwa umcimbi.  UPhumezo wayengeyedwa, wayelumene indlebe nendoda ethile yakwaSindane kwangezolo, neyathi yahlala ilindile ngolo suku.  Wathi akufika umntwana esithi iyabizwa nguyise, yee thwasu yathatha khona.  UPhumezo wazixelela iindwendwe zakhe ukuba mazimnike ithuba akhe aye apho kwakufundisa khona unyana wakhe aye kuqonda ulwazi lwakhe ngalo nyewe.  Kwadlula iintsuku zantathu umfo kaTyelomfula wathumela amadoda amathathu kwaMotaung, eqhuba iinkomo ezine ezihambayo ekwaphethe nemali yokugcwaliswa inani leenkomo awayelihletyelwe ngugxa wakhe wakwaVezamafa.  Watsho ewayalela amadoda ukuba maze amcelele uxolo kwabakwaMotaung atsho nokutsho ukuthi mababe

besamkela ezo nkomo njengentlawulo, wobuye athumele ezinye ukuba azanelanga ezo.
Ngengomso uZakhele wafumana amacebo nokomelezwa yinqununu yakhe, watsho -waziva eyindoda enesibindi neyayiza kumelana nabo nabuphi na ubunzima ehlangabezana nabo.  UZakhele wabhalela uPuseletso ileta eshushu, emchazela ukuba ixesha leenyembezi lalidlule kwaye yena Zakhele wayekruqukile zizo, engafuni kuphinda azibone.  Waqhuba wathi lalifikile ithuba lokuba bahlale phantsi bacwangcise ubomi babo, kwaye wayengekho omnye umntu owayenokwenza lomsebenzi ngaphandle kwabo bobabini.  UZakhele wayeqonda mhlophe ukuba kwakunyanzekile ukuba abe gadalala kuPuseletso owayenomkhwa wokulila into engapheliyo, de ngamanye amaxesha amosulele naye azibone sel'echiphiza.  Wayezakuba yindoda enjani ethi kwakulila umfazi nayo iphekise?  Wathi efika uZakhele kuPuseletso wabe ehlabela mganyana emxelela ngezigqibo zakhe malunga nobomi babo bobabini.  Upuseletso wakhe wazama ukumtsalisa nzima ngemibuzo uZakhele, kwakucacile nje ukuba amahlubi ayengamfuni yena Puseletso kuba engumSuthu wayeza kuphila ubomi obunjani nawo? njalo njalo ke.  UZakhele wamxelela ukuba wayengazimisele kuphendula mibuzo eyayimalunga noyise okanye amahlubi awayenobuzwe ecalula iintlanga, kuba leyo yayiyingxaki yawo ingafuni Zakhele.  Emva koko wema ngeenyawo umfo kaTyelomfula eqonda kakuhle ukuba wayeyithethe yonke into awayeyizele, nkqu leyokutshintshelwa kwakhe kwisikolo saseCaba wayeyibikile.  Akazange amxelele uPuseletso unobangela wokutshintshwa kwakhe kuba wayeqonda ukuba babuyakwanda ubutshaba phakathi kwakhe uPuseletso noPhumezo ekwakuza kuhamba kuhambe abe nguyisezala.
Wazisola ukuba wayemxelela ntoni khona ukuba nguyise owalayo ukuba bazimanye, nowanyanzelisa ukuba kuhlawulwe umonakalo kuphela.  Zazizininzi izizathu awayenokuzibeka akhusele uyise kuyo yonke loo nkohlakalo yakhe.
Imini yokuvalwa kwezikolo zivalelwa iiholide zobusika

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yabalusizi kakhulu kwilali nesikolo sakwaMasakala, kuba yayikwayimini yokugqibela kutitshala uTyelomfula kweso sikolo.
Inqununu yayicinga ukuba yayilwamkele njengento edaliweyo udaba lokuhamba kukaZakhele kweso sikolo, kodwa lwathi lwakufika olo suku lokugqibela yababuhlungu ngendlela engabalisekiyo intliziyo yomntu omdala, yaba buhlungu kangangokuba kosuleleka nabanye abantu, iititshala, abantwana besikolo nabantu jikelele.  Kumalungiselelo enkqubo yalo mini kwakukho amantombazanyana esikolo amathathu aweyeza kucula iculwana:
"Ndlela ntle mntaka Khesa,
Ndlela ntle Nozulu
'Ze usikhumbule nalaph'uyakhona...."
Yonakala indaba ngokusuka enye yala mantombazanyana ifikelwe lufefe ingabinakuzibamba ekuceleni kwinto yabantwana, loo nto yatsho nabanye bosukeleka bengasaligqibanga iculo labo.  Bayakuhlala phantsi bephelelwe ngamandla, zancwina kalusizi iimazi zolusu kuba ziyosulela iinyembezi, nqwa nentsini.  Kwabanzima kakhulu njengoko nabantu becawa babekho kanobomi ngenxa yemisebenzi kaZakhele ecaweni.
UZakhele wayengazanga wazihlupha ngokufuna icawa yaseWesile nawayengumgonwa wayo, nje ngoko isikolo eso sasikwisiza esinye necawa yaseRhabe, wazinikela ngomoya wakhe wonke kuloo cawa.  Yayimininzi imisebenzi yecawa awayebandakanyeka kuyo.
Lavalwa ngomthandazo itheko, abantwana besikolo bathabatha izipho ezaziphiwe uZakhele bazisa kwasibonda kwindlu awayehlala kuyo.  Isicelo sikaZakhele sokuba indlu leyo yakhe angayohluthwa kuba wayezimisele ukumana ebandwendwela ngamaxesha athile, samkelwa ngothakazelelo ngusibonda owayesel'emthatha njengonyana wakhe uZakhele.  UZakhele wathi esinye sezizathu esasiza kubangela ukuba amane ukubandwendwela ingakumbi ngempelaveki yayisesokuba wayezimisele ukuqhubela phambili izifundo zakhe ngasese.  Watsho esithi kunzima

13

ukufunda xa ekowabo ngenxa yeetshomi nemisebenzi yekhaya.  Wayengazi kunqaba ke nangezo holide zobusika ngenxa yaso kanye eso sizathu.  Mhlawumbi ke mfundi ohloniphekileyo zazikho nezinye izizathu.
Sathi siphuma nje isikolo ngalo mhla wokuvalwa kwazo, kwabe kuvakala umdumo wemoto, phofu ingekaveli yona.  Yayiyiveni yomfundisi wezakwalizwi wase Mt.  Hargreaves ize kuphuthuma uZakhele nako konke okwakhe nje ngoko yayilusuku lwakhe lokugqibela kweso sikolo ngokwazi kukayise uPhumezo.  Iveni yayiqhutywa yintombi kamfundisi enkulu neyayifundisa kwisikolo sabancinane eSigoga esasikufuphi nesemfundo ephakamileyo iMt.Hargreaves.  Wayekho noThozama evenini ehamba notitshalakazi lowo.  Iveni yaya ngqo kwasibonda apho wayehlala khona uZakhele, kodwa amantombazana afika amangaliswa kukufumanisa ukuba impahla kaZakhele yayingabotshelwanga kufuduka.  UZakhele wababulisa nje wathi mabazenzele into ephungwayo uza kubuya kwakamsinyane watsho ephel'emehlweni.
Wemka undomka uZakhele, alinda ancama amantombazana, yabethabethana ingqondo kaThozama engazi nokuba ayiqokelele na impahla kaZakhele ayilungiselele ukukhweliswa evenini, okanye athini bethu?  Wayetshone phi yena umnini mpahla?  Lathi xa libantu bahle wangena uZakhele wathabatha ingxowana eyayinempahla yokutshintsha neemfunekwana zemihla ngemihla, izihlambi mazinyo, neetawulana zakhe, njalo-njalo banduluka.  UThozama wahle waqonda ukuba wayengonwabanga ncam umnakwabo, akazimisela kubuza mibuzo njengoko kwakukho umntu wesithathu womnye umzi.
UZakhele wafika ekhaya wazibika ukuqaqanjelwa yintloko, nto leyo eyabangela ukuba aye kulala engakhanga ancokole nto namntu ngaphandle kwempilo leyo.  UPhumezo wabuza kuThozama ukuba babeyishiyele ntoni na impahla kaZakhele; ekubeni wayethumele iveni esenzela ukuba babuye nayo yonke, uThozama waphendula ngelithi yayingashiywanga ngabo koko yayishiywe ngumniniyo uZakhele.  Ngemini elandelayo uZakhele wavuka onwabe

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ngendlela eyagqityelwa kudala kwelo khaya.  Wathi nje ukuba agqibe ukuphunga ikofu yakusasa, waya kukhangela amakhwenkwana awayesenga ebuhlanti, athi akugqiba ukusenga aphuma nazo iinkomo, waza walungisa ebiya iindawana ezasezibudilika apho ebuhlanti.  Wabizwa nguThozama emxelela ngamanzi okuhlamba
	awayesel'elungile.  Akuba egqibile ukuhlamba waya kwigumbi lokutyela, apho wafika uyise sel'ehleli naye elindele ukutya.  UmaTshabalala wakungenisa nje ukutya  wakhawuleza waphuma, ngelakhe esithi wenzela ukuba 	uPhumezo afumane ithuba lokuncokola nonyana wakhe.
	Kangangendlela awayonwabe ngayo uZakhele kwaba nzima
	kuyise ukuba athethe ngezinto awayesel'ezicwangcisile
	engqondweni yakhe ukuba uza kuthetha ngazo.  Wayenayo
	nemibuzo ethile yezinto awayefuna ukuziqonda apho
	kunyana wakhe, kodwa wagqiba ekubeni akhe ayirhoxise okwentsukwana, mhlawumbi wayeya kubuye ayibone ngenye
	imini loo micimbi.  Wayengazukuduba-duba loo moya woxolo wawugquba kwelo khaya, masithi oku nje kwaloo mini.  Batya
	kamnandi umntu noyise bencokola ngesivuno esasisihle ngendlela eyodwa, ukwanda kwemfuyo, ukuqhuba kakuhle
            kukaThozama ezifundweni, ubunkenenkene bempilo kaMaTshabalala njalo-njalo.
	Kwagqitha impelaveki yanye uZakhele waxelela uyise
	ukuba usaya kwaMasakala kuba wayenezifundwana
	awayefuna inqununu yakhona imcacisele ngazo.  Ekubuyeni
	kwakhe kolo hambo wabuya ephathele uyise izihlangu zexabiso eliphezulu nangazange wazinxiba okokoko wathi wazalwa.  Wakhe wazama ukukhalaza uMaTshabalala phofu edlala kuba wayengathengelwanga nto yena, uZakhele wamcimela iliso, baphela yintsini benonina.  Ngelo xesha uPhumezo wayegobe umqolo elinganisa izihlangu zakhe,
	ezenza ongabahoyanga abo babehleka.  Uzakhele wayemvelele ngentla uyise, etyala uthando apho kwakukho intiyo nethemba apho kwakukho intandabuzo.  Uyadlala ngabantu basesikolweni mfundi!
UZakhele watyelela rhoqo kwaMasakala, maxa wambi wayemxelela uyise, kanti ngamanye amaxesha wayemgada nje ukuba athi tshelele angabikho ekhaya umzuzwana, ayibone indlela ebheka kuhola wendlela ovela eMt.  Fletcher, afike aphakamise ubhontsi wesandla sangasekunene amise izithuthi eziya ngaseMatatiele.  Maxa wambi wayedla ngokubhaqwa ngunina nowayesithi azidize ngokuzikhohlelisa ukuba uyambona.  UZakhele wayemvala umlomo ngokumcimela iliso, iphel'int'ibithethwa.  UZakhele wayelungisa imicimbi yakhe kwela cala lakwaMasakala, phofu akazange alibale ukulung'iselela ixesha lokuvulwa kwezikolo emva kweeholide zobusika, loo nto yanyanzelisa ukuba akhe atyelele kwilali yaseCaba njengoko wayeza kuqalisa khona ukusebenza.  Wakhawuleza wayifumana indawo yokuhlala kuloo mizana yayikufuphi nesikolo.  UZakhele wayesenakho ukusebenza evuka kowabo yonke imihla kuba indlela yokuhamba yayilula ngenxa yeebhasi ezazidlal'abantwana zivela ngaseMt.Fletcher qho kusasa zisiya eMatatiele ze zibuye ukujika kwelanga.  Wayesenakho nokuhamba ngehashe, umgama osuka eSigoga uye eCaba awumde ngolo hlobo.
UZakhele wathi akuyifumana indawo yokuhlala eCaba, waya kuthenga impahla yendlu edolophini.  Wathenga nje ezona zinto zazibalulekile zendlu, kwahle kwacaca ukuba wayengazimiselanga ngabunewunewu.  Onke la malungiselelo wayewenza yedwa engabhungisi mntu.








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4.

Simdala thina notat'Omkhulu


Ngeevekana nje ezimbalwa efundisa eCaba uZakhele wazibalula ngomsebenzi wakhe omhle, kwahle kwacaca ukuba kwakufike imbawula yetitshala kweso sikolo.  Iimpela veki ezimbini zokuqala uZakhele wazichitha kwaMasakala kuba kwakunyanzelekile ukuba abonane noPuseletso ukuze baqukumbele intetho yabo malunga nekamva labo.  Kwiveki yesithathu zivuliwe izikolo uZakhele wagoduka, yayilolwesithathu usuku lweveki.  Wafika wacela ukubonana noyise ngasese esithi ungxamile kuba imoto eyayimkhwelisile yayisadlulele eMt.  Fletcher, kwaye kwakufuneka ithi ibuya abe sel'eyilindile kuhola wendlela.
Laba lide ithuba umntu noyise bevalelene behlinza impuku, kangangokuba kwaba nzima nokuba atye uZakhele ngenxa yexesha elaselixhatshwe yinja.  Ukubaxolisa abapheki wathi makugalelwe esityeni esivalwayo ukutya ahambe nako, wayeza kufika nako kungekapholi kuyaphi eCaba.
UPhumezo wakhawulezisa waqokelela amawabo wawazisa ngesicelo sikaZakhele sokuba adityaniswe nondofanaye wakhe ngokusemthethweni nasesikweni, nawayezakwahlulwa naye kukufa.  UPhumezo wawacacisela amawabo ngentombi eyayikhonjwe nguZakhele esithi naye wayeyazi nakuba wayengazanga wayibona, kodwa zazikho iinkomo ezaseziphumile ukuya kuhlawula umonakalo owawenziwe nguZakhele kuyo.  UPhumezo wayezamile ukuyijika ingqondo kaZakhele malunga noPuseletso,

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esenziwa ziintloni nokoyika abantu bakwaMotaung nje ngoko wayebaxelele utyhatyhiwe waza wabahlawula ngomntwana wabo.  Ingxaki yaba yeyokuba babuza kuya kucelwa njani ke ubuhlobo kwimeko enjalo.  Emva kwengxoxo ithuba elide amadoda agqiba kwelokuba makuthunyelwe abantu kwaMotaung baye kucela ubuhlobo, beve ke ukuba baphendulwa ngelithini na.
Isicelo samaHlubi kubeSuthu sokuba yonke into ikhawuleziswe ukuze batshatiswe ngokukhawuleza abantwana zange siphumelele kuba uyise wentombazana wayengumntu wasemlungwini, kwakunyanzelekile ukuba makalindwe.  Njengoko uyise kaPuseletso wayeza kubuya ngeyoMnga, kwakucace mhlophe ukuba wayeza kufika sel'enosana uPuseletso.
Zabethabethana izimvo zamadoda kwicala lamaHlubi, amanye esithi kuya kufuneka usana lushiyeke kulonina njengoko eza kulufumanela ekhaya kakade, amanye esithi akukho sizathu sokuba lwahlukaniswe nabazali balo usana kuba ayengekho amathandabuzo okuba loo mntwana wayeza kuzalwa yayingokaZakhele.
Ngomhla wamashumi amabini ananye, kuOkthobha uPuseletso wafumana umntwana oyinkwenkwe emfumanela esibhedlela eMatatiele.UZakhele wayewaxelelwe amagama nguyise, ukuba wayeyintombazana wayeza kuthiywa igama lokuba nguZinziswa, kodwa ke kwaphumelela elikaBhaso kuba umntwana wabayinkwenkwe.  UZakhele wagoduka enemincili waya kubika ekhaya ngokufika kwendodana.  Konwatywa kakhulu kwelo khaya ingakumbi nguMaTshabalala, kaloku wayezakuba nomzukulwana, into eyayithetha ukuba wayengazukushiyeka yedwa ukuhamba kukaThozama esiya esikolweni semfundo ephakamileyo.  Indlela awayeza kufika ngayo uPuseletso kulo mzi wakwaNozulu noko yayinganiki mincili, Ingakumbi kuMaTshabalala kuba wayenewonga eliphakamileyo ecaweni.  Into yokufikelwa ngumolokazana osel'ephethe usana noko yayiza kumbangela iintloni ezingathethekiyo.  Wakha wazama ukuwuphicotha nomyeni wakhe lo mcimbi efuna nokuqonda ukuba kwakunganjani na xa lwalunokukhe

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lushiyeke kulonina usana ukuze lubuye luphuthunywe emva konyaka.  Baba bayavana uPhumezo nomkakhe, kodwa kwacaca ukuba kwakungekho zigqibo zazinokwenziwa engekho uZakhele, eneneni noPhumezo wayenazo iintloni kodwa zazingafiki kwezikaMaTshabalala.  Ayahleba amagqobhoka, kodwa ndiwothulela iqhiya awasetyhini.  Akubikelwa ngengcamango yabazali bakhe uZakhele wala walandula esithi alunakwahlukaniswa nabazali balo usana kuba kusoyikwa abantu becawa, watsho esithi ukuba loo magqobhoka ayebaluleke ngolo hlobo kwimicimbi yakwaTyelomfula, wayeyakuxolela ukuya kuhlala nalo eCaba usapho lwakhe, abasindise ehlazweni.  Yathanda ukuba shushu ingxoxo ngalo mba kwada kwagqitywa ekubeni kwakuyakulunga luze nonina usana kwakuba kutshatiwe.
Amalungiselelo	angephi omtshato enziwa kwicala
lakulontombazana, kuba        ngenxa          yemeko kwakungazukwenziwa sihika-hika satheko.  Iqhina lomtshato phakathi kukaZakhele Tyelomfula noPuseletso Motaung labotshwa ngomhla wesine kweyoMdumba, uBhaso enenyanga ezimbini ezizeleyo ezelwe.  Yaba yimini enkulu ukufika kukaPuseletso kwaTyelomfula ephethe usana lwakhe, wazala umzi ngabantu bezokubona umtshakazi nosana.  Indaba asinto ukuwoyika umbethe, kuba nangona wayengenzanga theko lamtshato uPhumezo wayexhele iigusha ezimbalwa njengendoda eyayifumile, waza wabiza umfundisi ukuba azokwenza umthandazo wokwamkela olo sapho.  Umfundisi wacela uxolo esithi unomcimbi wotyhilolitye eCaba, wathumela umvangeli kwaPhumezo.  Utyhilolitye lwaseCaba lwaluzakuba kwiveki elandela eyomcimbi wakwaPhumezo, kodwa umthanjiswa kaThixo wabangumntu obhidekileyo, wabona ngathi kwakubhalwe kanye olo suku lomcimbi wakwaPhumezo, kanti eyona nyaniso yayiyeyokuba wayengafuni kubananto yakwenza nalo mcimbi ngenxa yobuhesheheshe bawo, kodwa engafuni kulikhupha atsho.
Wamkeleka ke uMaMotaung emaHlubini, nawangazange azihluphe nakancinane ngokuzama ukubiza eso siduko ngendlela eyiyo nesisiSuthu, athatha ngokuthi MaMndaweni

19

elungiselela ulwimi lwawo ke nawo.  UMaMndaweni wahlala kamnandi emzini wakhe, wakhawuleza waqhela ngenxa kaThozama.  Wathi emshiya uThozama kunyaka olandelayo esiya kwenza ibanga lematriki eMvenyane waye sel'eqhelile

emzini wakhe.
Ukuba uBhaso noPhumezo babentanganye wawuya kufunga uthi ngamawele, okanye mandithi uBhaso wayengumfanekiso kaPhumezo ebuncina nenibakhe.
Endaweni ekudla ngokushiywa kuyo isicholo xa kuchetywayo ingakumbi ngamakhwenkwe asezilalini ezisesemva, uPhumezo wayenenwele ezimhlophe qhwa zahlukile kwezimnyama intloko yonke, wayenjalo ncam ke noBhaso.  "Simdala thina notat'omkhulu, simdala, sigugile uyapo?" Wayedla ngokuteketa atsho unkabi ekhomba elo bala lalimhlophe entloko.
Impahla yendlu kaZakhele eyayishiyeke kwaMasakala yabuya, wakha wacinga ukuyigodusa neyayiseCaba kodwa wabuya wakhumbula ukuba kwakukhe kubekho iimini ezinzima zemvula ehlotyeni nekhephu ebusika.
UYehova wabuya wayibabala indlu kaZakhele ngenye indodana, neyathi yathiywa kwathiwa nguSithonga.  Izinto zazimhambela kakuhle uZakhele, kuba ngawo loo nyaka wokuzalwa kukaSithonga, wayiphumelela imfundo enomsila.  Ubomi ngumzamo mfundi.
Iphupha likaThozama lokuba ngumongikazi laphumelela, kuba isicelo sakhe soqeqesho bongikazi samkelwa kwisibhedlela ekuthiwa yiMarianhill eNatala.  Wathabatha iminyaka yamithathu uThozama eqeqeshelwa ubongikazi, emva koko waya kwenza isebe lezokubelekisa kwisibhedlela iCharles Johnson eNquthu kwa kwelase Natala isithuba esabangangonyaka.
UMaMndaweni wafikelwa yincwadi eyayibonakala ngesigximfizo ngaphandle ukuba yayivela eThekwini, phofu isandla esasiyibhalile akazange asazi wayeqala ukusibona.  Incwadi ezazivela eposini zafika noPhumezo, nowafika wanikezela iincwadi kubaninizo, wamnika ke uMaMndaweni leyo yakhe.  Ngenxa yokothuswa seso sandla sasibhale loo ncwadi nawayengasazi, uMaMndaweni wakhawuleza waya

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kungena kwigumbi lakhe lokulala, wafunda incwadi yakhe.  Ngelishwa likaMaMndaweni uZakhele wayeseMthatha kuhlaziyo lwezifundo zenzululwazi, nto leyo eyabangela ukuba angabi namntu wayenokubonisana naye ngokwakuqulathwe yincwadi leyo.  Ukungonwabi kukaMaMndaweni emva kokuba efumene incwadi kwabehle kwaphawulwa ngabantu bomzi wakhe, kwaye njengoko yayifike ngomvulo incwadi; yabangathi ngunyaka wonke loo veki kuba wayeyakude abuye ngolwesiHIanu uZakhele.  UmaTshabalala wakha wazama ukuzisondeza kumolokazana wakhe ezincokolisa iindatyana ezazibanda, ecinga ukuba mhlawumbi uMaMndaweni wayeza kumphokozela ngomvandedwa wakhe.  Ubani!  Wathi naxa azama ukumloba ngokumxelela ngeyakhe incwadi eyayivela kumzi owa wuthengisa amantshontsho eenkuku eMgungundlovu, neyayimazisa ukuba ayesendleleni makawalindele, wabuya nemband'esikhova kuMaMndaweni.  Waqala ukuba nexhala uMaTshabalala kuba kwakucacile ukuba yayinkulu indaba kwincwadi eyayivela kweleebhanana neswekile.
Wonke umntu wakulindela ngamehlo abomvu ukubuya kukaZakhele eMthatha.  Babebaninzi abantu kwaPhumezo, abanye babelapho ngengqesho, njengamakhwenkwe awayesalusa iinkomo nempahl'emfutshane, abanye ke babesebenza nje phakathi komzi.  Nabo bazifikisela ngendlela ezahlukeneyo kwimeko yonxunguphalo kaMaMndaweni, abanye babesithi unokuba akaphilanga, abanye besithi ngumthetho wabo abeSuthukazi abafuni kwahlukana nabayeni babo, bakholwa kukusoloko bejinga ezibhatyini zamadoda, batsho beyithintitha intsini.  Ixesha lentlebendwane lalilide ngokwaneleyo, iveki yonke.
Omnye:	"Ndinjani namhlanje ndingumanyewu?"
Olandelayo:	"Yhu andibazi ubuthongo, ndithetha mna ndijonge ngawayizolo, ingxaki yam inye yeyokuba uza kubuya na umyeni wam kwezaa mbelukazi nezifundiswakazi zaseMthatha" gqu-u-uzu intsini.
Enye yezinto abaziwa ngazo abeSuthu bubuhomba, le nto ithi icace kakuhle ibalasele kwabo bangamahlwempu nabanezindlu nganye, nonokuthi ukuba ufike kwakusasa

21

ungakholelwa wakuxelelwa ngenani labantu abalala kuloo ndlu ngendlela ecoceke nebetha umoya ngayo.  UMaMndaweni wayenazo zonke ezi mpawu nangaphezulu, zizo ezamenza wathandwa kakhulu ngabantu bomzi wakhe.  Wafika nomkhwa omtsha nomhle kwelo khaya, owokuthi ngalo lonke ixesha xa aza kupha umntu into etyiwayo aqale ngokumnika amanzi okuhlamba izandla nokuba kungangaliphina ixesha lemini.  Okokoko ndabakho andikhumbuli ndibona ihomba elilivila.
Lwafika olwesiHIanu olungaliyo, lwafika noyise kaBhaso evel'eMthatha.  Wabonwa nguMaMndaweni kuqala kuba wayemi ngasefestileni kwigumbi lokutyela.  Wathi akumbona wakhawuleza waqhwetha uBhaso, owaphuma eligqabi wakhawulela uyise.  UZakhele wayibeka phantsi imithwalo wafunqula uBhaso waya kungena naye endlwini, impahla kaZakhele yaphuthunywa ngumfazana owayesisithulu nowayehlala apho kwaPhumezo wayingenisa endlwini.
UZakhele wayibulisa nje inkosikazi yakhe, wakhawuleza wanxiba impahlana elula yemihla ngemihla waya kubulisa uyise.  UmaTshabalala wayengekho okwelo thutyana eye kuvelela omnye ababekhonza kunye kwalapho elalini, nekwakuvakele kwinkonzo yangolwesine ngezolo ukuba wayelele ngandletyanananye liphika.
KuMaMndaweni kwaba ngathi kukho into ethe xibilili ukusuka oku emagxeni akhe, enyanisweni yayikho kwaye wayeza kuyithi talakaxa emagxeni omyeni wakhe uZakhele ngabo obo busuku.  UZakhele wayefike uSithonga elele, emva kokuba egqibile ukuncokola noyise iindatyana ezingephi zohambo lwakhe nempilo yekhaya, wavusa uSithonga ebuthongweni kuba wayemkhumbula kakhulu.
Emva kwenkqubo zesiqhelo zomzi, kwaya kulalwa elowo enomvandedwa wakhe, kaloku noZakhele wayesel'eyiphawule imeko yakhaya ukuba yayingamanga kakuhle.  UMaMndaweni wakhe wangenisa intlanganiso engqondweni yakhe: Athini bethu, amxelele kwanamhla oku uZakhele ngencwadi evela eThekwini, okanye ayimisele olunye usuku?  Yakha yenziwa kanene into yokwamkela umntu ngezinje zona iindaba?

22

Ngalo lonke elo thuba uZakhele wayezama ukulalisa uBhaso emfundela ibalana lehagwana ezintathu.  Emva koko waphinda wabuza impilo kowakwakhe, nowayefundeka emehlweni ukuba wayenento.  Kwabanzima kuMaMndaweni ukuyichaza impilo eyayibuzwa nguZakhele, kungoko wacela ukumboleka incwadi eyayivela eThekwini.  UZakhele wathi ntla ngesandla angasiqhelanga ngaphandle wakhawuleza wayikhupha incwadi esingxotyeni sayo, wayifunda.  Yayivela kudadewabo uThozama.  Emva kokuba eyifundile uZakhele incwadi wakhulula wangena ezingubeni, waza wayalela uMaMndaweni ukuba makacime isibane, wayefuna ukucinga kakuhle ebumnyameni engaphazanyiswa nto.  Eneneni kwakungekho nto yayiza kumphazamisa, ukuba wayecinga ukuba wayezakuphazanyiswa nguMaMndaweni, wayetshaye phantsi kuba uMaMndaweni wayeza kuqala ukulala ubuthongo benene ngaloo mini ukusukela okokoko wathi wafumana loo ncwadi.  Loo nto yangqinwa kukuba athi engena nje ezingubeni abe sel'erhona, kangangokuba akazange amve noSithonga ekhala ebusuku efuna iimfanelo zakhe, wancedwa nguZakhele wamlungiselela.
Ngemini elandelayo uPhumezo wabizela uZakhele ngasebuhlanti ngenjongo yokuba bakhe babonisane ngemicinjana ethile engephi noko, izinto ezinje ngokugcinwa ngononophelo kwamaphepha neencwadi ezibalulekileyo.
"Amaxesha atshintshile mfo wam, namhlanje andinako ukuya nakuyiphina indawo yomthetho ndifike ndithi ndinguPumezo kaTyelomfula ndingenalo iphepha okanye incwadi engqina oko.  Ngamanye amazwi Nozulu imilomo yethu kule mihla ngalamaphepha nezincwadana, kuba nokuba singayivala yona singathethi kuphela siveze la maphepha singayizuza yonke into esiyifunayo.  Masiwagcine ngobuchule ke ngoko".
UPhumezo wayenebhokisana eyayenziwe ngenkcenkce, egcina kuyo zonke iincwadi zomzi ezibalulekileyo, wayefuna neziqinisekiso zokuzalwa zabazukulwana bakhe zifakwe  kuloo bhokisana, esithi uthanda ukuba loo bhokisana ihlale itshixiwe, kodwa yaziwe ngumntu wonke kwelo khaya.
Kwanyanzeleka ukuba uZakhele aye kuboleka incwadi yabo

23

yomtshato kuMaMndaweni, kwakunye neziqinisekiso zokuzalwa, esikaBhaso noSithonga.  Sothi sikhumbule mfundi ukuba uBhaso wazalelwa kulonina, kodwa kwathi kuba ayesel'enziwe onke amalungiselelo esintu okwendiselana, nangenxa yokuba umcimbi wegama awayezakuthiywa lona umntwana nefani ekwakufuneka ebizwe ngayo wawuphicothwe kakhulu nguPhumezo noZakhele, wabizwa ngefani kaTyelomfula.
UZakhele wathi ngeliya xesha wayeye kuphuthuma incwadi yomtshato nezabantwana, wakhumbula ekaMaMndaweni eyayivela kuThozama, ezinye wayakuzifaka kwibhokisana kayise ngokomyalelo, waza ekaMaMndaweni waya nayo kuyise wamnika yona.
Wathi akugqiba ukuyifunda incwadi uPhumezo, wayifaka esingxotyeni sehempe yakhe waza wayalela uZakhele ukuba angayi kude kuba wayeza kubuye amfune emva kwethutyana, watsho esiya kungena endlwini ethe cwaka eqwalasele phantsi.  Umolokazana wakhe wamsela into ephungwayo, wathi akumbona imeko awayekuyo uyisezala, wayibeka nje loo ti wachwechwa wakhawuleza waphuma.  Umntu owayeza kumphazamisa ezingcingeni zakhe uPhumezo nguMaTshabalala, kodwa ngethamsanqa wayesaye kukroba ummelwane wabo owayebanjwe liphika.
Phantse amashumi alithoba anesihlanu ekhulwini labantu bayakuthanda ukunconywa, amadoda afumileyo, ingakumbi phaya ezilalini ziba mhlophe iintliziyo zawo xa abantu bencoma indlela abathe bahlutha ngayo xa ebethe anomgidi awenzileyo, kwaza kwatyiwa inyama kwaselwa kwahluthwa.  UPhumezo wayengahlukanga ke koluhlobo lwabantu, wayeyindoda enezinwe neyayinobubele kakhulu; nje ngoko wayephoxwe nguZakhele ngokutshata umtshato owawungacacanga, wayezimisele ukuba woze awenze onke amabhongo akhe de agqithise emgceni mhla kwatshata uThozama, nokwakukuphela kwentombazana awayeyizele.  Wayeza kuhlinza iinkomo nokuba zine ondle amahlub'amahle namakhulu, kakade kwakungekho mthetho wawubhalwe phantsi wenani leenkomo ezazifanele ukuhlinzwa xa kutshatiswayo.  Kodwa elo phupha lakhe

24

lalibhangile, wathinta ngesandla incwadi eyayisesingxotyeni sehempe yakhe, wanga angaphinda ayikhuphe ayifunde, kodwa waphinda wazinqanda ezikhumbuza ukuba kwakubalulekile ukuba aqine nanjengendoda.  Wathi ebuya uMaTshabalala, wafika uPhumezo sel'ezishumayeze kwakuko, wayewukhumbula kakuhle nangona wayengasichani kakuhle isahluko nevesi kwizibhalo ezingcwele, umbhalo othi "Ningalindeli okuhle kodwa"!
UThozama wathi akugqiba uqeqesho kwezokubelekisa wafumana umsebenzi njengomongikazi ogqibeleleyo kwisibhedlela esise Thekwini kwa Mc Cords.  Akazange asebenze xesha lide kwesi sibhedlela kuba kwathi kanti uqeshwe sel'ekhulelwe.  Emva kowabo bathi bakuziva ezi ndaba bagqiba ekubeni makaphuthunywe, kuba kwakusenokwenzeka ukuba oyike umsindo kayise angagoduki.  Kwagqitywa ekubeni uZakhele akhe aye kumkroba, nangona kwakungebilula ukuba abuye naye . nanjengo ' ko wayephantsi kwengqesho.  UZakhele wafika kwa Mc Cords esibhedlela engekho uThozama, wafumana ingxelo yokuba uThozama wenza isicelo sokuwushiya umsebenzi nangona lalisekude ixesha lokuba abeleke.  Waqonda ukuba uyise wayeza kuzenza iinzame zokuya kweso sibhedlela wayekuso, afike amenze kakubi.  Sona isizathu sokulahleka kwakhe wayefuna saziwe kowabo, nangona engazange abenaso isibindi sokubhalela abazali bakhe, wayesazi ukuba uMaMndaweni wayeza kubaxelela.
UZakhele wathi akungamfumani udade wabo wagoduka, kodwa washiya idilesi yakhe kwenye inzwakazi eyayixelenga kweso sibhedlela, iyeyaseMqanduli kwelaseTranskei.  Loo nzwakazi yamthembisa uZakhele ukuba iyakuthi yakuwufumana umkhondo wendawo awayezimele kuyo uThozama imbhalele.  Indaba yokulahleka kukaThozama yabaphatha kakubi emiphefumlweni abazali bakhe, uPhumezo yena wayeziqinisa njengendoda, kodwa uMaTshabalala kwanyanzeleka ukuba asiwe kwagqirha.  Ugqirha waphawula ukunyuka koxinzelelogazi, waza wamthumela esibhedlela.  Ukuya kulala esibhedlela kukaMaTshabalala kwayiphumza kakhulu ingqondo

25

kaPhumezo owayengasalali buthongo buhlayo, kuba uMaTshabalala wayephatha kuvuka ezinzulwini zobusuku ampongoloze ecula amaculo ecawa aseWeseli, atsho ngento evavivakala kakubi ezindlebeni zowakwakhe.  Akukho mntu unokucula kamnandi mfundi eyiloziswa kukulila.  Wayesithi akwanela kukuyiloza elila atsho ngowona wakhe wamde wona umthandazo, ecela uSombawo embiza ngamagama aliqela, ukuba asebenze ngeemfemfe zakhe lubuye usana lwakhe.  Kanti maxa wambi wayekhwela azehlikele kolo sizana lunguPhumezo, esithi akazanga ebomini bakhe ayibone indoda enesibindi njengaye, ekwakucace mhlophe ukuba yayingazimisele nakancinane ngokuya eThekwini nakwindawo ezikufuphi apho iyekufuna uThozama.
Wanyamezela umfo wakwaNozulu, kuba nangona wayengayiqondi loo nto uMaTshabalala yayiligazi nekaPhumezo intliziyo ngokuzipha amathafa komntan'akhe.  Eneneni wayekhe wayicinga into yokuya kumfuna uThozama, kodwa wayeza kuqala abheke ngaphi akuba efikile eThekwini, lingangokuba lingakaya nje iTheku.
Wayesithi yakuqala ukuthandaza inkosikazi yakhe aguqe naye nangona wayengamenywa mntu kuloo mithandazo.









                                                    5.

Andwebe Gqitha AmaXhosa


UZakhele wakhawuleza ukuyifumana incwadi awayethenjiswe yona, neyayiza kumnika umkhondo kadade wabo.  Yafika ingayixeli indawo awayekuyo uThozama, koko imyalela ukuba makazame iintsukwana emsebenzini afike eThekwini ngokukhawuleza.  Wayeza kufika elindelwe esikhulweni sikaloliwe yiloo ntokazi yaseMqanduli, kwaye  yayithembisile kwasencwadini apho ukuba yayiza kumkhapha uZakhele imse apho wayehlala khona uThozama.  UZakhele akazange ayifihle incwadi kuMaMndaweni, wathi emxelela ngomlomo uyise okwakuqulethwe yincwadi, wabe yena uMaMndaweni ezifundela ngokwakhe incwadi awayeyibolekwa ngowakwakhe ...
Wathi efika kuMaNdaweni uZakhele evela kubikela uyise ngencwadi wafika intombi yaseMaNdawenini sel'ibibitheka ingasakwazi nokuthetha.  "Simanga sezimanga!  Yinto kwehle ntoni ngoku? ndakushiya imizuzu emihlanu uhleka ndabuya se ulilifu." Wabuza wenjenjalo uZakhele nangona engazange afumane mpendulo.  Besesivile ukuba uMaMndaweni wayengasakwazi nokuthetha oku.  Idolophu yaseMqanduli iseTranskei, nqwa nesithili saseMaluti nesinekhaya likaZakhele, abantu abavela kwezi ndawo zimbini bathi bakubhaqana kwilizwe elikude njengaseNatala bazibone bebanye, oko kukuthi bengabakhaya.  Kufana nokuthi mfundi xa unokuya eMelika, masithi ungowakuTsolo okanye eNgqushwa nokuba kukuGatyana ze ufike eMelika ufumane

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umntu ovela eTsakane eRhawutini, akukho mathandabuza, ngumkhaya wakho lowo kuba ningabase Mzantsi Afrika nobabini.  Kwaba njalo ke nakuloo ntokazi yase Mqanduli xa yayibona uZakhele esisibhadu-bhadu kwa McCords efuna udade wabo, kwaye yayizimisele ukuma ngeenyawo ifune umkhondo kaThozama.  Yakhawuleza yeva ngeempukane eziluhlaza ukuba wayehlala kwindawana ekuthiwa kuseMfolweni kude kufuphi naseThekwini.  Zonke ezi nzame loo ntokazi yayizenziswa lusizi nokuthanda nje ilizwana layo nabantu abavela khona, ngakumbi ababesengxakini njengoZakhele lowo.  UMaMndaweni saphantsa sambulala isifo samagxa, kuba wayifunda incwadi awayeyibolekwe nguZakhele wada wafunda naphakathi kwemigca apho kwakungabhalwanga nto, khona.  Wazizobela umfanekiso ngqondweni waloo nzwakazi yaseMqanduli, wayibona ifanelekile, inesithomo esihle, isukile egadeni, intsundu ngebala, mhlawumbi yayinonwele lwempunzi, wona umhlantla? kwakusenokwenzeka ukuba yayinawo.  Wathi akufikelwa yile ngcingane we-e thwasu kwindawo awayehleli kuyo waya kwigumbi labo lokulala, wafika wazijonga esipilini waza wabona umfanekiso wakhe angazange awuthande konke konke.  Umfazana owayenamehlo abomvu kukulila, enobuso ubushwaqeleyo ngumsindo nokuzoyikisela.  Walungalungisa iqhiya awayeyithwele.  Wazama nokuncuma, wavula emehlo akhe kakhulu wabuya wawanciphisa ezama ukubona eyona ndlela wayenokukhangeleka emhle ngayo.  Qabu ixhala kuba wayeyedwa kuloo ndlu ephatha kolula intamo aqethukise intloko abuye amele kude nesipili alambise isisu, alungise umbhinqo.  Eneneni wayengasondeli nokusondela ngobuhle kumfanekiso-ngqondweni awayezizobele wona wenzwakazi yaseMqanduli, kude kufuphi naseMthatha othathayo.  Isikhwele!  Sakuze sibulala umntu ngeny'imini.
Injongo yethu kwesi sahluko ubukhulu becala kukuphuthunywa kukaThozama nguZakhele, ngoko ke siza kumshiya uMaMandaweni netyhefu azityise yona, isikhwele.
Kungovuyo noko ukuvakalisa ukuba kubo bonke obo buhlungu bentliziyo wayekubo uMaMndaweni, ayekhula
*NB page29 is not there!
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sikaloliwe.
Ukufika kukaThozama kowabo nangona wayekwimeko eyayibanga iintloni kwafana nokubuya konyana wolahleko, ekwathi nangona wafika elidlavu nenikiniki, kwavuyelwa ukufika kwakhe engophilayo.  Injalo mfundi inimba yomzali kumtwana amzeleyo.  Impilo kaThozama yaba yeyobulolo kuba iintanga zakhe awayefudula ehamba nazo behleka kumnandi zambaleka azafuna kubananto yakwenza naye, wafana nomntu oneqhenqa.  Ezona ntsuku zazibanzima kakhulu zezange Cawa.
Ngecawa yokuqala efikile kowabo wagqiba kwinto yokuba ashiyeke ekhaya angayi ecaweni, koko azivalele endlwini de babuye nabanye ecaweni.  Wayeqinisekile ukuba abazali bakhe babezakusivuyela esisi gqibo njengoko babenamawonga bobabini ecaweni, uyise wayeligosa kanti unina wayengunobhala womanyano lwamakhosikazi.  Esesibini isizathu wayesoyika oogxa bakhe engayazi nendawo awayezakuhlala kuyo ecaweni.  UPhumezo wabehle wayiphawula into yokungazimiseli kuya caweni kwentombi yakhe, kungoko wayicacisela ukuba wayengafuni namnye umntu owayezakushiyeka ekhaya abanye abantu besiya ecaweni.  Watsho esithi wayefuna iintanga zakhe zimbone ukuba woyisiwe kukuziphatha kakuhle.
Kusenzeka zonke ezi zinto nje uThozama wayehleli ejonge enkalweni elindele incwadi eyayiza kuvela kuqedisizungu nowayeza kuba nguyise womntwana owayeza kumfumana kungekudala.  Kangangendlela awayemthanda ngayo loo mhlobo wakhe uThozama, nasekuziphatheni kwakhe kakubi, wayeqinisekile ukuba uqedisizungu wayeza kuguquka endleleni yakhe yobuyotywa abe yindoda endilekileyo bakuba betshatile nje ngoko base befikelele kwezo zigqibo.  UPhumezo yena wayebika imbiba abike ibuzi kwakukhankanywa indaba yokuqhutywa kukaThozama a'siwe kwaZulu njengoko kwakusakwenjiwa njalo xa intombi ithe yakhulelwa ekhaya.  Wayephatha kubuza ukuba sakha sakho na isisu esisiwa ngololiwe, aphathe kubuza ukuba babeya kuthini na abo babeza kusa eso sisu xa befika kwaZulu lingaziwa elo siko, yiyiphi indoda eyayiza kuvuma inkosikazi yayo iye apho,

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kuba ke owakhe umfazi owayenguMaTshabalala wayengenakuya kobo bubhanxa ngenxa yempilo yakhe eyayinkenenkene gqitha kwezo ntsuku.  Le ntetho kaPhumezo yatsho zabathabethana iingqondo zabantu ababezama ukuchophela loo mcimbi, zaye zazihamba zingemanga ndawonye nenyanga ezazisondeza imini yokubeleka kukaThozama, kwaye kwakungekafiki nenye incwadi eyayivela kuqedisizungu.
UThozama wayenxunguphele emphefumlweni.  UPhumezo ukuba kwakunokuya ngaye nangona wayengayithethi mntwini loo nto, ebeka zizathu zimbi, wayengabufuni ubukhozi bakwaZulu ngenxa yokungafani kwamasiko amaHlubi nawakwaZulu.  Lixatyiswe gqitha isiko lasebuhlanti emaHlutyini.  Ukugoduka kukaThozama kwamenza wazinikela kakhulu ebhotileni uqedisizungu ngelithi uchitha nje isithukuthezi sikaThozama, enyanisweni naye wayehleli ejonge kwasenkalweni elindele ukufika kwabantu bakuloThozama.  Wayezimisele eqinisekile ukuba bakufika uza kubaxelela ukuba uza kunyuka nengalo.  Bathi bakungafiki wanexhala, sona isizathu sokungambhaleli uThozama sasingekho ngaphandle kokuba iintsuku ezininzi wayelala eshushu namazinywana la engazazi negama lakhe ngaphandle kokuba ade alijonge edompasini.  Wathi akucela icebo kubahlobo bakhe basetywaleni bamcebisa ukuba makabonane negqwetha lakhe ngaphandle kokulibazisa kuba amaXhosa ayendwebe gqitha, aye eya kummangalela amfake enkathazweni ngomntwana wawo.  Nolo thandwana wayezibetha isifuba esithi umthanda ngalo uThozama, iitshomi zakhe zalugalela amanzi anomkhenkce zisithi "shiya phansi intombi Xhosa wena mfowethu, ahlakaniphe kabi amaXhosa. Izokudonsa ngekhala intombi yeXhosa ikwenze isiyoyoyo ikusho ungabi yindoda yalutho." Ezi zoyikiso nala macebo zayifumana lula indawo engqondweni kaqedisizungu ngenxa yesizathu esesive kakhulu ngaso.





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	6	
	Walila UBhaso	
		

	"Bawo ndiwunikela ezandleni zakho umoya wam." La yaba	
	ngamazwi entshumayelo nomthandazo nawathi akhethwa	
	ngumthanjiswa kaThixo ewacaphula kwincwadi kaLuka	
	ongcwele, kwisahluko samashumi amabini anesithathu, ivesi	
	yona iyeyamashumi amane anesithandathu. Emva kokuba	
	zivakele iindaba zokusweleka kukaMaTshabalala inkosikazi
	yakwaKhesa, enziwa amalungiselelo omngcwabo wayo 
	esenziwa ngabantu abohlukeneyo ngendlela ezahlukeneyo.
	Yakhonjwa inkomo yomcimbi, kwaya kuthengwa nokutya	
	komsebenzi okuntlobo-ntlobo nokwakufanele umgangatho
	womzi kaPhumezo, ndingabala ndithini na bethu? Zakhethwa	
	nezithethi, yacwangciswa nenkqubo yenkonzo yomngcwabo.	
	Kusenziwa onke la malungiselelo nje, yayixakekile nendoda
	yakwaThixo izama ukufumana elona lizwi kwincwadi	
	yeencwadi,    elalifanele  umngcwabo      kaMaTshabalala.
	Yawadwelisa ada amathathu iwacaphula kwiincwadi	
	ezahlukeneyo eBhayibhileni, kodwa kuwo omathathu alikho	
	eyaneliseka lilo ukuba yayingaqhuba ngalo umngcwabo	
	wenkosikazi yakwaNozulu.
	Nangona wayewenza yedwa lomsebenzi wokukhetha ilizwi
	umfundisi, waziva enentloni akoyisakala kukulikhetha.
	Waphazanyiswa yinkosikazi yakhe esekuloo ngxaki imbizela
	kwisidlo sangokuhlwa, nekwathi emva kwaso kwenziwa
	isikhungo. Kumthandazo wayo inkosikazi kamfundisi yalila	I
	kalusizi icenga, imbongoza umninintozonke ukuba amkele

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umphefumlo womkhonzazana wakhe uMaTshabalala ngokwesithembiso awasenzayo.  "Ndiyemka ndiyakunilungiselela indawo" wayemana ukucaphula ngolu hlobo ezibhalweni ezingcwele umka mfundisi emthandazweni wakhe.  Kwathi kugqitywa ukuthandazwa wabe seleqinisekile umfundisi ukuba uyifumene itekisi awayezakungcwaba ngayo unkosikazi Tyelomfula.  "Bawo ndiwunikela ezandleni zakho umoya wam."
Zathetha izithethi, zonke zisebenzisa amazwi nobuciko obahlukeneyo, phofu yona intsingiselo yayinye, zonke zazincoma ukulunga kukaMaTshabalala nokuhlonela kwakhe umyeni wakhe.
Ubukrelekrele bengqondo kaMaTshabalala bazenza zahlonitshwa izimvo zakhe ngumyeni wakhe.  Yayingeyonto ilula kuPhumezo ukwenza izigqibo kwimicimbi yekhaya engekazifumani izimvo zikaMaTshabalala.  "Mfondini kha undiphe ithutyana ndiza kukhe ndicinge ngalo mcimbi, masibonane ngomso." Ayeqhelekile la mazwi ephuma kuPhumezo amaxesha amaninzi.  Nguye yedwa owayesazi ukuba kwakungekho kucinga ngandawo, koko wayesaza kuva uluvo lowakwakhe.  Ukuba ayeyazi amaHlubi loo nto nge ayethe utsalwa ngempumlo ngumfazi uPhumezo.
Balila kalusizi abantwana nabazukulwana bakaMaTshabalala, ndiqinisekile babesenza into eyayilindelekile.  Walila uBhaso.  Wayenakho ukulila uBhaso, kodwa hayi ngalaa ndlela alila ngayo, walila kwancameka, bathi nababesithi bazomelezile boyisakala balila kalusizi.  Yalilwa into emngcwabeni kaMaTshabalala, abantu abaninzi besosulelwa nguBhaso.  Njengekholwa elikhulu uPhumezo wayesel'ezishumayeze kwakuko ngokusweleka kwenkosikazi yakhe, kangangokuba ekulileni kwakhe wayengaqinisekanga nokuba wayeliliswa kukuswelekelwa yinkosikazi yakhe na? nokuba wayeliliswa kukusizela uBhaso owayelila ephelelwe ziintloni.
Umfanekiso wekhaya elingenaye umam'ekhaya wathi thaa ezingqondweni zabantu ngaloo mini kwanga kwakuza kuqala ukubakho kwekhaya elinjalo emaHlutyini.  Yahamba intombi yakwaTshabalala ishiya abantwana bayo ababini, uZakhele

33

noThozama, kunye noKhayakazi owazalelwa ekhaya nguThozama.  UBhaso noSithonga basebekhulile noko, umntu owayengekazi nokuba liduma phi nguKhayakazi.  Waba mkhulu kunene umsebenzi kaThozama, benoMaMndaweni kuba wonke umsebenzi wekhaya wecala lasetyhini wawujongene nabo, wawukwajongene nabo nowokomeleza nokuthuthuzela abona bantu babebonakala bebuthathaka ngokushiywa kwabo nguMaTshabalala, abo yayinguPhumezo noBhaso.  Wanxunguphala ngakumbi umzi wakwaTyelomfula kukufika kwencwadi eyayivela uSulenkama; isibhedlela esikwisithili sakuQumbu eTranskei, isamkela isicelo sikaThozama sokufuna umsebenzi njengomongikazi ogqibeleleyo.  UThozama wayeqhelile ukumka kowabo eshiya abazali bakhe nabantakwabo, uhambo lwakhe lokuya eSulenkama lwahluka kulo naluphi na uham'bo awakha waluthabatha eshiya ikhaya.
Namhlanje wayengashiyi bazali bakhe, wayeshiya umzali wakhe, wayengashiyi bantakwabo nje kuphela koko wayeshiya nomntan'akhe, uKhayakazi.  Bonke abantu wababulisa ezibambe ngenkophe iinyembezi, wayezimisele ukugqibela ngaye uBhaso nje ngoko wayesenkenenkene kakhulu.  Zaqengqeleka iiveki uThozama eseSulenkama ungavumi ukucima umfanekiso kaKhayakazi esingethwe nguMaMndaweni engqondweni yakhe, wayengathi uyasiva nesikhalo sosana lwakhe xa wayesiya kusithela ekhatshwa nguSithonga.
Emva kweenyanga ezisixhenxe eswelekile uMaTshabalala, wayiphuthuma indoda yakhe.  Yona ayizange ihluphe mntu ngakugula, ngomhla eyasweleka ngawo yothusa uMaMndaweni ngokungavuli emnyango xa ankqonkqozayo ezise ikofu yakusasa.  UMaMndaweni wayedla ngokufika sel'uvuliwe umnyango xa azise ikofu yakusasa, athi akunkqonkqoza abizelwe ngaphakathi nguyisezala.  Zazikho noko intsuku awayedla ngokufika lungekavulwa ucango,, phofu wayenkqonkqoza kancinane ngentobeko akhawuleze avulelwe.  Lahla lamxelela igazi lakhe ngaloo mini ukuba wawukho umonakalo, kuba wankqonkqoza amaxesha ada amathathu kungekho mpendulo.  Wakhawuleza waya kubiza

34

uZakhele owayelungiselela ukuya empangelweni, kwisikolo semfundo ephakamileyo iMt.  Hagreaves. (Watshintshelwa kweso sikolo ukufumana kwakhe imfundo enomsila.) Emva kwemizamo eliqela uZakhele waluvula ucango lwegumbi likayise, bamfumana elele ubuthongo baphakade.
Waba uyashiyeka-ke uZakhele benoMaMndaweni wakhe bewuphethe umzi wakwaTyelomfula.  Bawuphatha kwakuko, kuba kwathi emva kokuba uphumile umzi elifini elimnyama, kwagaleleka kwelo khaya indwendwe ezazivela eNgcobo kwilalana iSithebe zizokucela ubuhlobo ngoThozama.  Iindwendwe zafika zizilungiselele njengoko zazisuka kude, kwahle kwacaca ukuba zazizilungiselele kwicala leqhosha elingenamngxuma.  Zathi zakwaziswa ngoThozama njengomntu owayonakalele ekhaya, azabonakalisa kothuka.  UThozama wayeyandlale ngokucacileyo imeko yakhe kulomfo wakwaChalata phambi kokuba ayekucelwa.  Kwakha kwakho impikiswano engephi malunga noKhayakazi, abantu bakwaChakatha bacela ukumthabatha nonina, kodwa wakhawuleza waboyisa uZakhele esithi ngumntwana wakwaKhesa lowo ngokwesiko lesiHIubi, babengenakho ke ngoko abo bafo baseNgcobo ukucela amantombazana amabini omzi omnye ngaxesha nye.  Yaba iyayekwa ke indaba kaKhayakazi, kwachotshelwa umcimbi kaThozama waqosheliswa ngayo loo mini.  Kwagqitywa ekubeni kwenziwe umtshato ozolileyo ngakulo mtshakazi ngenxa yezizathu ezibini: Umzi wawusandul'ukuphuma kwilifu elimnyama, kanti esona sizathu esasibalulekile yayisesokungabiyontombi ngokupheleleyo kukaThozama.  Babeza kuzibonela ke noko abakwaChakatha kwelabo icala eNgcobo.

35

Waba uyancipha ke kwakhona umzi kaPhumezo, kuba nangona wayengemki emhlabeni uThozama, yayidandalazile inyaniso yokuba wayeza kulishiya naye elo khaya aye kwanja zoth'umlilo.  UThozama wasivuyela isigqibo esenziwa ngumntakwabo sokwala noKhayakazi kubantu baseNgcobo ' wayesazi ukuba uzakuphatheka kakuhle kakhulu umntan'akhe kuMaMndaweni, nangaphezu koko wayethandwa kakhulu nguBhaso.  Enyanisweni abantu abaninzi babecinga ukuba naye wayengokaMaMndaweni, babesothuka bakucaciselwa xa kuthe kwakho imfuneko yoko.
Zazizininzi izinto ezazikhumbuza usapho lwakwaTyelomfula ngabazali babo, andinakho ukuzichaza ngokwanelisayo ngolu siba, kodwa wayesithi okhe wafikelwa yingcamango okanye yinkumbulo enjalo azibe ayekulila eyedwa ngasese, engafuni kosulela abanye ngosizi olwalusemoyeni wakhe.  Zalatshwa lixesha izilonda ezintliziyweni zabantwana bakwaTyelomfula.  Wahamba eyokozela yiminqweno emihle kwanamabhaso uThozama esiya kwikhaya lakhe elitsha eNgcobo.

36

7.

Libekiwe izembe komdala nakomncinane


Ikhaya lakwaTyelomfula lahlala ilikhaya lamakholwa nelalikholose ngoYehova.  Abantu bamangaliswa kukuphikiseka kwentetho yesiXhosa kwelo khaya, intetho ethi "ingafa intaka endala amaqanda ayabola." Yaya ngokwanda imfuyo, nasemasimini zazibazihle izivuno, ngaphandle nje ke kweminyaka yembalela nekwakubalasela ngayo isihlava.  UMaMndaweni wongezelela ngokuvusa ishishini lakowabo eTsepisong, eleenkuku zamaqanda.  Nangona wayekhe walizama noMaTshabalala, wayemana ukuphazanyiswa yimpilo enkene-nkene.  UMaMndaweni wabonakalisa iimpawu zokuzinza kwengqondo emva kokusweleka kwabazali babo, umsebenzi wekhaya owawujongene naye yedwa ngoku, wamtsho akabinalo ixesha elaneleyo lokulandela umyeni wakhe ngamehlo engqondo, nto leyo eyayibangelwa sisifo samagxa, nokuzoyikisela njengoko engazange alifumane yena ithuba lokufunda de abe ngumongikazi okanye ititshalakazi.  Wayexhalaba kakubi maxa wambi ecinga ukuba angaze ngenye imini awexuleke umyeni wakhe ziinzwakazi ezikolo didi.  Utshaba lomntu yintliziyo yakhe.  UMaMndaweni wayeziphethe zonke iimpawu zobufazi ezazinokunqwenelwa yiyo nayiphina indoda ebhadlileyo, nditsho nokuba yase ifunde de yayityekeza imfundo kodwa yayiyakumthanda umfazi onjengoMaMndaweni, enyanisweni nasemfundweni wayengawuthobi kuyaphi umgangatho.  Iminyaka yakhe

37

yonke yobuntwana nobugqiyazana wayeyichithe esikolweni, oko nekhaya elindilekileyo lakwa Motaung, ukwendela kwaTyelomfula nokufumana uninazala onguMaTshabalala kwamenza wayinkosikazi endilekileyo nepheleleyo.  UZakhele wayengabuthandabuzi ubufazi bomkakhe, enyanisweni wayencuma yedwa xa embona equkeza phakathi kwekhaya,  ndingasathethi ke ngobubele novelwano lwakhe kubantwana, kumyeni wakhe nakubamelwane.  Ukushiywa kwakhe ngabazali kwamtsho wazibona ukuzinza, wakhula nasengqondweni.
Nangona ndingumXhosa gxebe iHIubikazi lomgquba mfundi, zikho izimbo endizithandayo kumaNgesi.  Indoda yasemaNgesini ayilibali ukumkhumbuza rhoqo owakwayo ukuba iyamthanda xa imthanda isaneliswa nguye.  "Andazi ukuba ndandingaphila njani na ngaphandle kwakho sithandwa sam," ungabeva bendongozela ngolu hlobo oonkabi.  Abantu basetyhini abafana noMaMndaweni zibafanele iinkuthazo ezinje, kodwa bangayincama loo ncasa ukuba bendele emaHlutyini; amangelengel'amahle, inkosikazi yasemaHlutyini izibona ngokufela kuloo mzi ukuba iyathandwa yaye iyabanelisa abomzi wayo, kuba nabathi bayincome abayincomi isiva.  Alukho uhlobo lomsebenzi olwalungaziwa ngamakhwenkwana akwaTyelomfula, ukuqala endlwini jikelele, kuye kuqhina ebuhlanti, nasezinkukwini, ekucocweni kwamaqanda njalo njalo.  Babeshiyana ngonyaka omnye nakumabanga emfundo, bathi bakuphumelela ibanga lesixhenxe ngokulandelana kweminyaka, uBhaso waya kwenza ibanga lematriki kwisikolo semfundo ephakamileyo eColana kwaBhaca.  USithonga yena waya kufunda kwaBlayi eNqamakhwe.
Ukonakala kwenye kukulunga kwenye, okanye ke akukho nto imbi kwaphela kuba akazange ashiyeke nesithukuthezi uMamndaweni ngexa babesezinaleni oonyana bakhe, kaloku wayekho nje uKhayakazi kwaye esekumabanga aphantsi kakhulu emfundweni.  Abantu ababehlala nababesebenza kwaZakhele abazange bemke ukutshaba kukaPhumezo nomkakhe, endaweni yoko banda ngenxa yobubele bukaMaMndaweni.

38

UZakhele wafumana inyhweba yokuthunyelwa eMelika ngurhulumente waseTranskei, esiya kwandisa ulwazi lwakhe kwezenzululwazi.  Wayezakuhamba iinyanga ezintandathu ukusukela kuSeptemba abuye ngoFebruari wonyaka olandelayo.  Kumadoda awayencedisa ekulondolozeni imfuyo, kwakukho indoda eyathi ngamava ayo ekugcineni imfuyo yathandwa yathenjwa kakhulu nguZakhele.  Loo nto yabangela ukuba angaxhalabi ngokuya kwakhe eMelika, wayesazi ukuba imfuyo yakhe yayiza kunonotshelwa kakuhle nguNdaphulele.
Ngeeholide zeyoMnga babuya oonyana bakaZakhele bobabini, bafika bazinikela kanobomi kumsebenzi wekhaya.  Wabalasela uSithonga ngokuthanda imfuyo, ixesha elininzi wayelichitha endle eselusa imfuyo kayise, iigusha, amahashe neenkomo ezingaphilanga zazibonwa nguye kuqala.  Le nyameko ingaka emfuyweni kule nkwenkwe yawumangalisa umzi ngokubanzi, asiyinto iqhelekileyo ukuzinikela ngoluya hlobo kwenkwenkwe esel'isesinaleni emfuyweni. Bonke abantu ababesebenza imfuyo babethathela kuNdaphulele imiyalelo, kuba nguye owayenolwazi kwanamava ngemfuyo, nangona wayengafunde   kuyaphi wayeyazi imilinganiselo yamayeza asezwa imfuyo egulayo ngokobudala bayo.  USithonga wayengabuzi mntwini, wayefunda imigqaliselo ebhotileni, wayekhuzwa nguNdaphulele maxa wambi sel' efuna ukuseza imfuyo egulayo amayeza kanti ibisel'iseziwe nguNdaphulele.  Isimilo sikaSithonga ngasemfuyweni samphazamisa uNdaphulele emsebenzini wakhe, wayefane azixolise ngokuthi wayesenziwa nje bubuntwana uSithonga.  Kwathi nasemva kwezihlandlo ezininzi ebhaqwa ebhatyazela emfuyweni uSithonga, akabonakalisa kuzithoba nakufuna kuva ngamntu.  Usizana olunguNdaphulele lwafumana lwazixolisa ngokuthi zaziza kuvulwa izikolo ahambe loo makhwenkwe ukuze ashiyeke ngoxolo nomsebenzi wakhe.  Wanyanzeleka noko ukuba ayijonge ngeliso elibukhali loo ntwana kuba yayisenokwenzeka ingozi yokufa kwemfuyo kaZakhele, ibulawa yimigqaliselo egqithe emgceni yamayeza.
Nangona wayekhe wahletyelwa nguBhaso uMaMndaweni ngesimilo sikaSithonga kuNdaphulele nasemfuyweni,

39

wayekelela ngelithi wayesenziwa bubuntwana nje nokuthanda ukunconywa ngenkuthalo yakhe emfuyweni uSithonga.  Umdla owawugqithe emgceni kaSithonga emfuyweni, nowokungahloniphi mntu kwakhe kwamcaphukisa gqitha uBhaso, wayeluthiye egazini uchuku waziva enyanzelekile ukuba akhe ayibeke endaweni yayo loo ntwana inguSithonga.
"Sithonga kha uhlukane nokuphilisa uNdaphulele ubomi bentshontsho ngokumphazamisa emsebenzini wakhe wokulondoloza imfuyo." Wamkhuza watsho ngenye imini uBhaso umnakwabo.  Waba uyinyathele emsileni inyoka kuSithonga.
"UThetha ukuthini kanye Bhaso?"
"Uyandiva, ndithi musa ukuphazamisa uNdaphulele emfuyweni."
"Andiphazamisi Ndaphulele koko ndenza umsebenzi wam, ukuba uyaphazamiseka loo Ndaphulele wakho angasuka abonane nendlela eza ngayo, baninzi abantu abafuna umsebenzi nabazimisele ukuthobela abaqashi babo".  "Uthetha ukuthini Sithonga? ngubani umqashi kaNdaphulele angamthobeliyo? nditsho kuba kolwam ulwazi uNdaphulele umthobele gqitha utata, nongumnini wemfuyo ayigcinileyo."
"Oh nguwe kanti lo ubangela ukuba angandihloneli uNdaphulele, kuba usithi akaqashwanga ndim?  Uyakuze azisole ngeny'imini mhla zajika izinto ndiyakuxelela." "Uthini Sith... " Baphazanyiswa nguBhavumla onyana bakaZakhele kwingxabano yabo, naye wayezigqithela nje ezokukroba ukuba zazisahamba kakuhle na izinto nje ngoko wayengomnye wamadoda ayeliliso kwelo khaya lwakwaTyelomfula.
Okungapheliyo kuyahlola, yiyo loo nto zanyanzeleka ukuba zidlule neeholide zeyoMnga ukuze abuyele esikolweni amakhwenkwe kaTyelomfula.  UZakhele wayeqinise intloko nangona wayezibona iintanga zamakhwenkwe akhe zisiya esikweni labasebuhlanti, wayenesizathu.  Uninzi lwamakhwenkwe awayesiya kweli siko kwelo lamaHlubi engekaliphumeleli ibanga lesixhenxe, ayebuya

40

engasavisisani kakuhle nokuphindela esikolweni.  Eneneni iliqela imizi yamadoda angafundaga kuyaphi kwelo, esinye sezizathu iseso kanye sokuba amakrwala amaninzi ayesuka  angazimiseli kuya kubethwa ziititshalakazana neememana kwizikolo ezikwakwezi lali ebengamakhwenkwe kuzo.  Le
	ngxaki yayingabikho konke kumakhwenkwe athe aya esikweni sel'esezinaleni, ayebuya kwelo siko athathe khona aphinde kumaziko emfundo.  Wayezimisele uZakhele ukuba
	uza kuwafaka omabini amakhwenkwe akhe esikweni ngeeholide zasebusika akabuya eMelika.  Wayesithi ufuna
	
ukuwenzela owona mgidi wakha wamkhulu kuba wayeza kuqala agqibelise ukwenza umgidi ololo hlobo njengoko kwakungekho nkwenkwe yimbi kwelo khaya.
	"Kutheni Sithonga? akuphilanga?" lo mbuzo wabuzwa nguZakhele kunyana wakhe omncinci kuba wayembona ematshekile eneempawu zokungabi mnandi.  Ezi mpawu
	uSithonga wazibonakalisa kanye ngeenstuku zokuya
	kungena kwakhe esuthwini.
"Ndiphilile tata kodwa, ee- ndinento endingayiqondiyo, le
	yokungena ngaxesha nye noBhaso esuthwini." "Yintoni ingxaki yakho kuloo nto kwedini?" "Kaloku tata imeko
	kaBhaso ayifani konke konke neyam, nje ngoko usazi nawe ukuba uBhaso wazalelwa kulonina, bendingethandi noko
	ukungena ngaxesha nye naye esuthwini...... 0 ndiyakuva ke
	Nozulu omhle, ndaye ndilusizi ukukwazisa ukuba ndiyagqibelisa mna Zakhele Tyelomfula ukwenza umgidi
	wamakhwenkwe ngalo ndiza kuwenza ngobu busika.  Ukuba
	akungeni ke ngoko kule gem, se uya kuzingenisa ngelo xesha
	lakube likholeke kuwe, nelobe lingasafuni mna.  Mhlawumbi
	ndiyakube ndingasekho kweli njengoko libekiwe izembe komdala nakomncinci." Nangona wayenamalungelo
	apheleleyo uZakhele wokuwenzela emzini wakhe umgidi
	wokwalukisa abantwana bakhe, wayengenakho ngenxa
	yokuhlonipha icawa.  Wayelwazi kakuhle uluvo lukayise
	nolwamakholwa ngokubanzi ngokuphathelene nemigidi elolu
	hlobo.  Wayeza kwenza nje umgidikazi omkhulu wokwamkela
	oonyana bakhe bakuba bebuyile esuthwini.
	Wabuya efunde lukhulu uZakhele kwelaseMelika kwaye

41

wayezimisele ukuluphokozela kanobomi usatshana lukaNtu kwisikolo awayefundisa kuso.  Nasenkangelekweni wayebonakala ukuba wayevela phesheya kweezilwandle, impahla awayeyinxiba yayiyeyodidi oluphezulu kakhulu, kodwa indilisekile iwufanele ungangatho awayekuwo.  Wayenayo inqwelo-mafutha eyayiyiveni, kunjalo nje yayisemgangathweni izifanele ke bethu nendlela zasemaHlutyini, kodwa wawothusa umzi ngokusuka abuye ethenge eyona yakhe yakudidi oluphambili yona imoto ngezo mini, iBenz.  Wayedla ngokuthi xa bambongelayo oogxa bakhe unkabi andongezele: "Ndilumkeleni makwedini, andiyongca yakuphemba mna." Esi simbo sokuthetha sosulela abantu abaninzi kuba wawungeva namakhwenkwe ezikolo xa athe agqwesa kwimidlalo entlobo-ntlobo ezikolweni zawo esebenzisa eso simbo somfo kaTyelomfula, zazimnand'ezo mini.
Ixhala lalikho kwabaninzi lokuba kwakusenokwenzeka lo kaTyelomfula anyuselwe kwisikhundla esithe vetshe kwisebe lezemfundo engekalutyekezeli ngokwaneleyo usatshana lwaseMt.  Hargreaves.  Wazibalula ngakumbi ekuzinikeleni emsebenzini wakhe uZakhele, nakwiwonga awathi walifumana emva kweminyaka emithathu ebuyile kwelasemelika, wonga elo yayilelobuhloli.  Babethe chu beqhuba kakuhle nabantwana bakhe bobathathu ezifundweni zabo, uBhaso wayesel'ekunyaka wokugqibela kwimfundo enomsila kwezolimo kwiYunivesithi yaseTranskei, kanti yena uSithonga wayeshiyekelwe ngumnyaka omnye kuphela abe yititshala egqibeleleyo yamabanga emfundo ephakamileyo.  Wayefunda kwisikolo soqeqesho zititshala phantsi kwentonga kaDali eMaluti.  Wayeqhuba kakuhle bethu noKhayakazi ezifundweni zakhe, singabalula uthando awayenalo kwezomculo.  Wayelithemba likatitshala kumaculo anesolo.




42
8 Kahle ngamatye


Lalibantu bahle ngaminazana ithile yehlobo, laye nezulu lizole nasebukhweni bezinja, apho kwabonakala kusithi wayiwayi abantu kumzi kaZakhele Tyelomfula.  Phakathi kwabo singabulula umthanjiswa kaThixo, umfundisi webandla lamaWesile nowayehlala emishini eMt.  Hargreaves, kunye namadoda ambalwa nawayesaziwa kulo lali, ayekwakho namakhosikazi amabini naweyendilekile ehlonitshiwe kakhulu.  Kumthandazo owenziwa ngumfundisi kulo mzi emva kwelinye lamaculo aqhelekileyo aseWesile:

Ndinik'amehlo ndikhangele
Phezulu ezulwini;
Ndibona khona abangcwele
Bevuya enkosini.


Wafundeka umyalezo owawuze kothulwa lelo gqiza labantu emzini kaZakhele.  Yathi ifika kuAmen loo ndoda yakwaThixo, kwabe sekuvakala izingqala ezilusizi nezazilumisa isisu kowayephulaphule.
Lala ngoxolo mfo kaTyelomfula, yindlela yethu sonke.  Andifuni nokuzama mfundi ohloniphekileyo ukuchaza ubuhlungu bentliziyo zosapho lukaZakhele, nosizi olwaba kulo mzi zakuba zivakele ezo ndaba zimasikizi zokusweleka kukaZakhele engozini yemoto.  Inxeba elilolohlobo laziwa

43

kuphela ngowakha waliva.  Izihlobo ezikude nezikufuphi zothuswa kakhulu zezi ndaba zomphanga kaZakhele, uninzi lwabantu lwazifumana koonomathotholo kwinkqubo apha yemiphanga, kanti abangazange bayive koonomathotholo beva ngabanye.  Wawuzamile kambe umzi ukuzazisa izihlobo kwiindawo ngeendawo, kuba yayiliqela imizi yakwakhesa kulo lali, nto leyo eyabangela ukuba ubelula umsebenzi wamalungiselelo omngcwabo.  Enyanisweni zathi zifika ezazivela kwiindawo ezikude zafika wonke umsebenzi uqhutywa kakuhle.
Singabala nje amadoda ambalwa akwaKhesa nawathi azinikela ngokungazenzisiyo kulo msebenzi; uKhawulenkosi nowathi wazalelwa kwelo lamaHlubi nangona inkaba kayise yayise Sulenkama kuQumbu, wayemthabatha nje ngomfowabo uZakhele nangona eneneni babedibene nje ngesiduko.  Le nto yabantu bakwaKhesa yokubambana ngolu hlobo ngezandla yaqala esaphila uPhumezo, wayengacalucaluli mntu nokuba ngowasiphina isiduko.  Nto leyo eyabangela ikhwele kwabo babengabakwa Khesa, befuna ukubonakalisa ubuhlobo nokuzalalana kwabo nalo mzi kaPhumezo.  Kwathi naxa sel'alala koyisemkhulu uPhumezo, awanqaba kwelo khaya amadoda anje ngoBhavumla, uDayimane, uBhatyana namanye ke bethu.  Kwakukwakho nendoda yomSuthu neyayigama lalinguTeboho, yona ke kuyaqondakala ukuba yayingatsalwa bububele babantu balo mzi nje kuphela koko yayinebango njengoko inkosikazi yalomzi yayingumSuthukazi.
Wahamba kakuhle kakhulu umsebenzi wokufihlwa kukaZakhele, kwathi nasemva komfihlo kwabakho izihlobo ezithile ezashiyekayo ngenjongo zokuzimasa umzi, nokuthuthuzela usapho kwanokwamkela iindwendwe nezihlobo ezathi zafika emva komfihlo zize kubeka amatye.  Sesivile ukuba uZakhele wasweleka engozini yemoto, leyo yayiyimoto yakhe yodidi olwaluphambili kakhulu ngezo mini, nekwathi emva kwengozi yatsalelwa kwigaraji eyayikufuphi naloo ndawo yayivelele kuyo ingozi.  Kwacaca kwakamsinyane noko ukuba igaraji leyo yayingenabo ubuchule bokuwubona nokuwulungisa umonakalo

44

owawenzekile kuloo moto.  Yathi yakuba ithunyelwe kwigaraji eyayifanele udidi lwayo, kwacaca ukuba yayininzi imali ekwakufuneka ihlawulwe ngenxa yobudulu beentsimbi zayo.  Loo nto yabangela ukuba kubekho impikiswano eshushu, bambi besithi ma ithengiswe kwakuloo garaji injalo ukuze kubekho iisentana ezifumanekayo ngayo kunokuba kuchithwe imali engako.
Eli qela lalikwayichaphazela nento yokuba kwakukuhle ithengiswe loo moto kuba yayiza kubambezela ukuphola kwamanxeba okushiywa kwabo ngumfi.
Oyena mntu wayebonakalisa ukuyixhasa ngamandla le njongo nguSithonga.
"Kha uphendule kaloku nawe Bhaso," yaba nguKhawulenkosi lowo ethundeza uBhaso.  "Undibona ndithule nje wena tat'omncinci ndinezibalo endizenzayo engqondweni, ukuba besendinazo iincwadi zokuqhuba bendizakuthi ma ikhandwe imoto katata ukuze ndiyisebenzise, kodwa kuba ndingekabinazo iincwadi ndibona iyakuba bubulumko ukuba ithengiswe ukuze kugcinwe imali."
"Ubuza kuyinikwa ngubani imvume yokusebenzisa imoto katata Bhaso?" Kwabuza uSithonga ebufudumala.
"Bendizakuzinika, kwaye andimboni umntu obeza
kundithintela ngaphandle kukamana," waphendula uBhaso.
"Akwaba ubusel'unazo incwadi zokuqhuba ukuze ndikubone uzinika imvume yokuthabathela kuwe imoto katata."
Yakuba ithengisiwe imoto kwagqitywa ekubeni ifakwe ebhankini imali.  Kwabakho umbuzo malunga negama eyayiza kufakwa phantsi kwalo loo mali ebhankini, wabakhawulezela ngempendulo uKhawulenkosi esithi imali mayifakwe ngegama likaMaMndaweni inkosikazi kaZakhele.  Kwabakho imibuzwana engaphele ndawo ivela kuSithonga, malunga neso sigqibo, phofu wakhawuleza woyisakala kuba akuzanga kubekho mntu umxhasayo ngaphandle kukaBhavumla nowakhawuleza warhoxa akubona uninzi lwabantu luxhasa uKhawulenkosi.
Izihlobo ezikude zazibehle zachithakala ngazinye de

45

kwashiyeka ezo zazikufuphi, nazo zabuyela emizini yazo.  Kodwa zathi rhoqo zamana ukuluvelela usapho lukaZakhele, ngenjongo yokunika uncedo olwalunokufuneka.  Ekuhambeni kwethuba saya ngokwehla isantya sokumpompoza kwegazi elaliphuma kwinxeba elalisentliziyweni kaMaMndaweni, nxeba elo elabangelwa kukushiywa kwakhe ngumyeni wakhe.  Inkulu inxaxheba eyathatyathwa nguKhayakazi nangona yena wayengayiqondi loo nto, nje ngomntwana owayeselula noko, wakhawuleza waxola ngokushiywa nguyise owayenguninalume.  UMaMndaweni wayezilibala iintsizi zakhe xa ahleli noKhayakazi bequkeza besenza imisebenzi yekhaya, njengesiqhelo kumzi othe washiywa sesinye sezihlobo, babemana ukufika abamelwane nezihlobo.
Nangona injongo	yabo yayikukuthuthuzela nokuchithisa
uMaMndaweni	isithukuthezi, ukufika        kwabo
kwakumkhumbuza	kuvuselela elo nxeba sesive kakhulu
ngalo.
Emfihlweni kaZakhele izithethi ezazibopha usapho zabetha ziphindelela zicacisa inyaniso yokuba nethamsanqa lokusutywa kukufa uZakhele ebakhulisile wabafundisa abantwana bakhe.  Iveni kaZakhele yayiza kusetyenziswa nguSithonga kuba ngethamsanqa lakhe wasweleka uyise sel'enazo iincwadi ezazimgunyazisa zimnika imvume yokuhla enyuka ezindleleni nakohola bendlela ngenqwelo mafutha.  Lo yabangundlela lula wokuba akwazi ukubuya ekhaya yonke imihla ukuphuma kwesikolo, nje ngoko wayehlohla eBhethesda kwisikolo semfundo ephakamileyo iLuphindo.  UBhaso yena wathi akuyiphumelela imfundo enomsila kwezolimo wathatyathwa waphoswa kwi-ofisi zolimo eMtAyliff ngurhulumente waseTranskei.  Wayemana ukubuya rhoqo ngeempela nyanga, de wafikelela kwisigqibo sokuba azizamele inyawo ezilula azithengele imoto.
Imfuyo yomzi yanda ngokwesiqhelo phantsi kwesandla sononophelo sikaNdaphulele, owayemana ukufumana emacebo amatsha naphilayo emfuyo kuBhaso.  UBhaso wayenganqabi kakhulu ekhaya njengoko wayesel'eneqegu, injongo yakhe yayikukuphucula umgangatho wemfuyo yakowabo nje ngoko wayenolwazi oluphangeleleyo kwelo cala.

NgalwesiHIanu luthile wafika kowabo uBhaso kusityiwa inyama yegusha, wathi kuba wayefike engekho umninawa wakhe uSithonga waya kuncedisa ebuhlanti, nje ngoko kwase kusemalanga kuvalelwa imfuyo.  Wathi akuphanda kuNdaphulele ngegusha ekwakutyiwa inyama yayo wafumanisa ukuba yayixhelwe ngolwesithathu lwalo veki wayefike ngayo kowabo.  Ezinye indaba azifumanayo kuloo nkonde yaba zezokuba kwakukho iigusha ezintlanu ezazithengiswe nguSithonga esithi uzama imali yokulungisa imicimbi yekhaya.  Wahlala ke elindele ukuba umninawa wakhe uza kuzipha ithuba amchazele ngempilo nenkquba njani yekhaya ngokubanzi, akungayifumani le nkcazelo wabizela uSithonga ngasebuhlanti: "Mfo kabawo ndiya hamba ngomso ndiphindela empangelweni, ke ndifuna ukuva ngempilo yekhaya nezinto ezinokuba zidla umzi," emva kwala mazwi wanqumama uBhaso ejonge uSithonga emehlweni.  "Ndiba ub'uyibuzile nje impilo izolo ukufika kwam, kwaye ukuba ndisakhumbula kakuhle ndikuxelele ukuba siya phila sonke.  Malunga nezinto ezidla umzi ke bendingekaziboni." "Ukwenza khaphu-khaphu umbuzo wam Sithonga; okokuqala ndithanda ukwazi unobangela wokuxhelwa kwengakaya yona inkabi yegusha ndingekho; ndingakhanga ndaziswe mntu.  Okwesibini ndivile ukuba uthengise igusha ezintlanu, ndifuna isizathu soko nento oyenzileyo ngentlawulo yazo."
"Yengakanani ke engakaya?" wabuza ngolu hlobo uSithonga kucacile ukuba uyaphoxisa kwaye uthetha nomntu angamaziyo nokuba usisiciko sayiphi na ibhekile.
"Akukho mfuneko yokuba ndichazele wena ngenkqubo yeli khaya, ndenza umsebenzi wam kwaye andilindele mibuzo ivela kuwe okanye nakubani na ngaphaya koko." Waqhuba watsho uSithonga.
"Uthini Sithonga?"
"Ndiza kuthengisa enye igusha, ukuze ngentlawulo yayo ndikuthumele kugqirha akuxilonge iindlebe, ndiyakrokra ngathi zingxamele ukuba ngamahomba xa ndinokuthi ndicacisa ngolu hlobo kungekho namoya ube usabela."
Wabibitheka uBhaso ngumsindo, wazinqanda sekusithi

47

makambumbe ngengqindi uSithonga, amazinyo nemihlathi sel'eyiqinise okwezitshixo zasentolongwengweni ezama

ukubamba umsindo.
"Uwathatha phi amalungelo okwenza ukuthanda kwakho
kulo mzi kabawo Sithonga?"
"Ndawanikwa nguYehova ngokundenza unyana nendlalifa kayihlo, ingaba useneminye imibuzo? ukuba isekho ndikucebisa ukuba wenze idinga nam kwixa elizayo ungandithatheli phezulu, andiyo ngc - gxebe ndiyindoda."
"Akunalungelo lakwenza kuthanda kwakho kulo mzi Sithonga, ekho umama nam, uza kungena enkathazweni ukuba akuqiqi, andazi ukuba ukhohliswe ngubani, nokuba ngubani na okukhohlisileyo nokukhohlisayo uyakulahlekisa, akuyiyo indlalifa yasekhay'apha.  Inye inkulu kaZakhele

ndim."
"Uyinkulu kabani? he-ee uyazi uyandihlekisa?" wabuza
ngolohlobo uSithonga ehleka.
Baphazanyiswa nguNdaphulele eze kubikela uBhaso
ngegusha eyayizele amawele.
"Uyakuze utyhafe wena Ndaphulele ngenye imini, mhla wafumanisa ukuba le nkosana yakho uqhayisa ngayo ayinamalungelo kulo mzi.  Loo mini ayikude kakhulu," yayisekwanguSithonga lowo.
Waya kungena kwigumbi lakhe lokulala uBhaso edandathekile emoyeni, waziva ekhumbula abangasekhoyo wabhenela edolweni ecela ukuzola komphefumlo.
Umsebenzi nezolonwabo zolutsha zabehle zayiphumza ingqondo kaBhaso kwingxaki awayenayo malunga nekhaya lakhe.  Wakha wathabatha ithuba engayi kowabo, ezama ukuzinzisa ingqondo yakhe.  Kwakubalulekile ukuba izinze ingqondo kaBhaso kuba wayesaziqhuba izifundo zakhe ngasese, engathandi kuphazamiseka.  UBhaso wayengazisoli ngokuthabatha isebe lezolimo, wayelithanda kwaye eqinisekile ukuba wayeshiywe nelifa elingapheliyo nguyise.  Wayengazange wayiphupha nokuyiphupha into yokuba angaze axambulisane nomnakwabo ngemfuyo, yena wayethatha ngokuthi imfuyo yekhaya labo yohlala iyeyabo bonke, ukuze bamane bebonisana ngemicimbi ema ilungiswe

48

ngayo.  Isimilo sikaSithonga samenza wacinga nzulu, waza wazimisela ukuba eme ngeenyawo lakufika ithuba loko ayibonise le ntwana kunye nabalukuhli bayo ukuba nguye inkulu kaZakhele.
Ngenxa yokuxakeka ngumsebenzi nezifundo uBhaso wothuka seziphelile iinyanga ezintathu engazanga alubeke unyawo kowabo.  Lo mothuko wamtsho akabinakuphozisa maseko wagoduka ngempelaveki elandelayo.  Wamkeleka ngobubele kowabo, kwavuya wonke umntu ingakumbi uKhayakazi, nowayesel'efunda esinaleni kwalapho eMt.  Hargreaves, efunda ehlala ekhaya.  Lwakhawuleza lwaphela ulonwabo kwajala yonke into kuBhaso akuva indaba zokuba kwase kunyanga ntathu emkayo uNdaphulele kwelo khaya lakwaTyelomfula.  Wazama ngako konke awayenakho ukufumana isizathu esivakalayo sokumka kwaloo nkonde kwelo khaya, watsho wancama ebabuza ngabanye bonke ababekho, akuzange kubekho namnye owamnika impendulo emanelisayo.  Wazixolisa ngelithi makalinde uSithonga, mhlawumbi yena wayeya kumnika impendulo evakalayo.  USithonga wabona ngemoto yomnakwabo imi ebaleni, wavuya kuba wayesel'emkhumbula kakhulu, wanela kuyimisa nje ayicime eyakhe wehla ngokungxama engaluvalanga nocango lwemoto.
"Yitsho mfo kabawo, uve kusithini ude ubuye ekhaya? kunini sakugqibela?"
"Nozulu! ndizive ndinikhumbula, nandigqibela kwiinyanga ezintathu ezadlulayo." Wayothula phezulu intsini uKhayakazi yathi ingekafiki phantsi wayiganga uMaMndaweni, kwahlekwa, kwahlekwa de wabonakala ebhidekile uSithonga.
"Bamb'apha bhuti wam," watsho uKhayakazi esolulela isandla sakhe kuBhaso, "uyakwazi ukuyiphendula imibuzo, kunjalo nje ngokulandelana kwayo."
"Ngumthetho wam kakade lowo, ngendingazanga ndawaphumelela la mabanga emfundo ndinawo ukuba bendingakwazi ukuphendula imibuzo." Yaqala ukuthi qwenge inkungu kuSithonga naye wathathisa wahleka.
"Kowu ndakusoloko ndiphi ndikutolikela isiHIubi?

49

Uthetha ukuba lonke elixa sihlekayo ubungekayibambi ijoke?" Yaqala phantsi intsini.Konwatywa kakhulu kwelo khaya ngolo rhatya, emva kwesidlo sangokuhlwa uSithonga wababizela kwisikhungo sangokuhlwa abantu bomzi, abantakwabo kwanonina.  Wafunda kwiNdumiso zikaDavide zalomhla emva koko uKhayakazi waqala iculo:

Ndinik'amehlo ndikhangele;
Phezulu ezulwini.

kwathandaza uBhaso nekwathi emva kwakhe uMaMndaweni wahlabela ivesi yokugqibela kwakwelo culo lika Khayakazi, wathandaza naye ukwaleka kulo mazwi ayes'ebhekiswe nguBhaso kusonini nanini, ewabeka ngobakhe ubuciko.
"Kha utsho mfo, uph'uNdaphulele?" wada wawubuza uBhaso umbuzo ekwakudala ewugodlile yonke loo njikalanga nolo rhatya elindele umzuzu ofanelekileyo.  Bajongana abanye abaphendula kuba enyanisweni wayecacile umntu owawubhekiswe kuye.  "Andimazi," waphendula u Sithonga kubonakala mhlophe ukuba wayephendula nje into awayengayikhathalelanga.  "Njani maan, wemka nini, ehanjiswa yintoni khona umntu omdala kangaka walaph'ekhaya?"
"Ndikrokrela ukuba laselifikile ixesha lokuba uNdaphulele ahambe apha ekhaya, kwaye andisalukhumbuli olona suku ahamba ngalo kule nyanga engaphaya kwale iphelayo.  Yinene engenakuphikiswa mntu eyokuba kudala ahlala apha ekhaya uNdaphulele, kodwa eyokuba wayengowalapha ekhaya andiyazi, andinabungqina.  Andizange ndiwubone udompasi wakhe, kusenokwenzeka ukuba wayengowakwaTyelomfula, kodwa loo nto ayithethi kuthi ungumzukulwana ka Phumezo, gxebe ngokufutshane unyana kaZakhele."
"Uyaqonda kakuhle nje Sithonga ukuba ndim unyana omkhulu kaZakhele nekungenakwenziwa nasiphi na isigqibo kweli khaya ngaphandle kwakhe?" Cwaka.
"Ndim inkulu yalo mzi Sithonga, andisazi isizathu sokuba uzenzele ukuthanda kwakho kulo mzi."
"Inkulu      yokuzenzela ngomdongwe         ivakala

50

ngokukhonkotha izichaza ubunkulu obungekhoyo.  Andikusoli Bhaso kufanelekile ukuba ubupapashe ubunkulu bakho kuba abukho.  Yhini le, uyinkulu kabani?"
"Sithonga ndakukwenz...
"Kahle ngamatye, uyinkulu enjani ezakubulala umninawa wayo?  Thina zinkulu zokuzalwa saziwa lilizwe lonke, yhaye akukho mfuneko yokuba sibe simemeza sibetha okanye sisonzakalisa abantu, zininzi iimpazamo oza kuzenza kulo mzi, phofu kakade nasemhlabeni weza ngempazamo."
Ngephanyazo uSithonga wazibona s'elephantsi ebala inkwenkwezi, wathi akuvuka waphuthalaza isitulo  esasikufuphi naye eza kugalela ngaso kuBhaso.  Kwangena uBhavumla enye yamadoda akwaKhesa kwalapho elalini
walamla.  UBhavumla wayakubizwa nguKhayakazi ngenxa
yokuphawula ingxoxo yabanakwabo awayeyiva ethe nca indlebe elucangweni lwegumbi ababexabanela kulo.  Waqala 	waya kunkqonkqoza kwelika MaMndaweni, wafika 	esabhenele edolweni ememeza Ongabonwayo.  Kungoko 	wagqiba ekubeni aye kubiza u Bhavumla kwakhe.
Imini elandelayo yayinguMgqibelo, njengoko uBhaso
wayefike ngolwesiHIanu akukho mntu wayekhe wazihlupha ngokumbuza usuku awayeza kuphindela ngalo eMt.  Ayliff	kuba yayisisiqhelo ukuba aphindele ngecawa.  Wavuka kwakusasa ngoMgqibelo wahlamba imoto yakhe, wayiqaba ngepholishi yayo, wayitsho yakhazimla okwesipili.  Emva	koko wahlamba wanxiba kakuhle, wayakucela indlela
unina esithi kunyanzelekile ukuba abuyele eMt.  Ayliff kuba wayejoyine umbutho kamasakhane nowawuzakuba
nentlanganiso ngengomso ngecawa. Wabulisa akubantakwabo, wayibetha yancinci imoto yakhe ukuya kusithela.  UMaMndaweni  noKhayakazi ayikroba ngeefestile ezahlukeneyo imoto kaBhaso yada yaya kusithela.
Ngezo ntsuku indawo kaNdaphulele yokujongana nemfuyo yayisel'ithatyathwe nguBhatyana, nekwathi ngenxa yokungabi namava kwakhe kulo msebenzi kwafa amatakane
amaninzi kulo nyaka ebulawa ziintshulube.

5 1

9.

Kuyayiwa eZulwini

limali zikaZakhele ezazisebhankini zabhalwa ngokutsha zitshintshelwa egameni likaMaMndaweni ngabelungu, oku kwenziwa ngokulandela uhlobo lomtshato olwaluthatyathwe ngaba babini.  Kwafuneka ukuba nemfuyo itshintshwe egameni likamfi ibhalwe ngenkulu yakhe.  Umyalezo wafika noDayimane kuMaMndaweni, waza uMaMndaweni akaphozisa maseko waya kubetha ucingo lwemfonomfono kwamfundisi ukwazisa uBhaso ngalo mbandela; ekwamqononondisa ukuba akhawuleze afike ekhaya ukuze kulungiswe zonke iincwadi zemfuyo kamfi.  Wathi efika ukuvela esikolweni uSithonga wafikela kwezi ndaba zotshintsho ncwadi exelelwa kananjalo ukuba sel'uthunyelwe umyalezo kuBhaso ukuba makafike ngokukhawuleza.
"Afike ngokukhawuleza aze kwenza ntoni?" kubuza uSithonga kunina, nowayemxelele ezi ndaba eyekelele umxakatho ephunga iti kunye nomkaBhavumla.  Loo mbuzo watsho ayana ngamehlo loo makhosikazi, ekhohlwe nayindawo angazifihla kuyo uMaMndaweni ngenxa yeentloni.  "Ndiyabuza mama ndithi ubizelwe ukuza kwenza ntoni uBhaso kumcimbi wemfuyo? khona ubizwe ngubani?"
"Ndiye kwamfundisi ndambethela imfonomfono, uthe uza kukhawuleza afike."
"O ufihle intloko nje mama nguwe lo ulahlekisa uBhaso sel'ecinga ukuba unelungelo nje emfuyweni katata?  Uze wazi kakuhle ukuba nayiphina inkathazo enokuthi ibekho

52

malunga nale mfuyo ya... katata, omnye wonobangela bayo nguwe.  Mhlawumbi wenziwa kukungazi nanje ngomntu wesintwana, ndim inkulu nomnini walo mzi nako konke okuphakathi, izinja nekati zalomzi ziyakwazi oko." La mazi wawathetha ephuma ngobungxamo uSithonga, wahlangana noKhawulenkosi esangweni.
"Yitsho nyana, he-e ngathi uyemka nje, awuyi kude kodwa?" wabulisa wabuza uKhawulenkosi.
"Ke ukuba ndiya kude kuyakonakala ntoni?"
"Hayi mntan'omkhuluwa akukhonto izakonakala, linye nje kuphela ixhala lam, lelokuba kungathi kanti uya kude ukuze ubuye sekumnyama kuba ngalo ndela kuya-kuba nzima ukukuncedisa ekusezeni laa nkomo ubuyaleze ngoBhatyana ukuba maze ndize kukuncedisa siyiseze iyeza."
"O kanene, ungandilinda nje imizuzwana ta'mnci ndisaya kubetha ucingo phaya emishini ndizakubuya ngoku.
"Ungathi uza kukhawuleza kwedini ndiyanazi nina mpi entsha kungatshona ilanga xa seniyibambile imfonomfono, khona uyakutsalela bani ebusuku apha?"
"Ndiyakutsalela nje uBhaso ta'mnci ndiza kukhawuleza."
Waphendula wakhawulezisa uSithonga ebaleka ukuya kusithela ngasemishini.  Waya kungena endlwini uKhawulenkosi wagalelelwa iti ngu MaMndaweni, wayefuna ukubuza unobangela wemeko awayekuyo uSithonga, kodwa wanqandwa bubukho benkosikazi kaBhavumla.
Yathi yakuhamba wenjenjalo uKhawulenkosi ukubuza.  Nangona wayezama uMaMndaweni ukuphendula ngokuzola efihla intloko, wayifunda ivaliwe uKhawulenkosi eyokuba wayemkhulu undonakele kwelo khaya, kwaye noMaMndaweni wayengazimisele kumfihlela nto uKhawulenkosi, kodwa yasuka yenzeka ngokukhawuleza yonke into yamtsho wabhideka.  Wathi akubuya emishini uSithonga waya ngqo kwigumbi lakhe lokulala, waphuthalaza phantsi kwebedi yakhe; we-e rhuthu ibhokisana eyayifumbethe zonke iincwadi zabantu belo khaya.  Iziqinisekiso zabantwana zokuzalwa, incwadi yabazali bakhe yomtshato, nawo onke amaphetshana awayebalulekile ekhaya elo.  Wahlala phantsi wawaphengulula ngononophelo

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emana ukuwafunda ngamanye.  Incwadi yomtshato yabazali bakhe kwakunye neziqinisekiso zokuzalwa kwabo noBhaso wazifaka kwisingxobo esinye, IBALULEKILE wabhala ngaphandle kwisingxobo eso.  Wabuyisela onke loo maphetshana ndawonye nesingxobo esiBALULEKILEYO kwibhokisana waza wayivala wayithi shwebelele kwaphantsi kwebhedi yakhe.
Le bhokisana yasungulwa nguPhumezo esaphila, kuba wayethanda ukuwafumana lula amaphepha nencwadi zomzi xa ezifuna, nabantwana bonke bomzi babeyazi kuba wayekhe maxa wambi abayalele ukuba bakhangele izinto ezithile kuyo.  Kwathi kwakusweleka uyise wayithabathela kuye uSithonga le bhokisana wayigcina.
Emva kokuseza inkomo, uKhawulenkosi wabuza impilo kaBhaso kuSithonga nowaphendula ngelithi wayengamfumananga emnxebeni endlwini yakhe, koko wayefumene umyalezo othi wayesahambe ngemoto.
Wagaleleka uBhaso ngempelaviki elandelayo esabela ubizo lukanina, wafika unina engekho phofu kwahle kwavakala ukuba wayengayanga kude koko wayesabizwe yinkosikazi kamfundisi emishini.  Ekubuyeni kwakhe wafika oonyana bakhe behleli ndawonye bencokola indatyana ezibandayo, wakhawuleza walothula udaba lokutshintshwa kweencwadi zikamfi zemfuyo zitshintshelwe kwawabo amagama.
"Uthetha ukuthini ma xa usithi ziza kutshintshelwa emagameni enu? ngobani oo enu?" Kwabuza uSithonga ehlwile ebusweni; kwakuvakala ngendlela awayephefumla ngayo ukuba wawumkhulu umsindo awayewuvalele kweso sifuba sakhe. limpawu ezithile esimilweni sikaSithonga, nezathi zabonakalisa ukungonwabi kwakhe malunga nalo mcimbi zamnika isibindi uMaMndaweni, wazimisela ukuligqabhuza ngokukhawuleza elo thumba ukuze umcimbi ube calanye.
"Ziza kutshintshelwa egameni likaBhaso nelikaSithonga." Kwathi cwaka endlwini, kwaphazamisa uKhayakazi ezise into ephungwayo, wakhawuleza wagxothwa nguMaMndaweni esithi makangazihluphi njengoko lase lisondele ixa lesidlo sangokuhlwa.

54
	"Andikuva mama," waphendula uSithonga watsho kwacaca ukuba wayephelele kulo magama mabini.  Kwalamla uBhaso ngokusuka akhwaze enye yamakhwenkwe awayencedisana
	noBhatyana emfuyweni.
"Kwedini khawuleza ubize utat'uKhawulenkosi phaya
	kwakhe, uze umxelele ukuba makayeke nayiphina into ayenzayo akhawuleze afike apha ekhaya."
	"Kulungile bhuti," yatsho inkwenkwana igqotsa ukuya
	kwaKhawulenkosi.  Wathi ejika uBhaso ebuyela endlwini
	njengoko wayemi emnyango ekhwaza inkwenkwana,
	wagilana noSithonga ngesifuba ephuma, naye wayesiya
	kumemeza kwaloo nkwenkwana.  Ngelishwa lakhe ayizange ibesamva kuba yayise iyakusithela.
	Ngephanyazo wangena uKhawulenkosi waza wasukelwa esihlalweni nguBhaso nowathi wathabatha esinye.
"Ubizwa ndim ta'mnci, phofu oyena mntu osengxakini nongayivayo into asichazela yona umama nguSithonga,"
wawabhekisa kuKhawulenkosi uBhaso la mazwi.  Emva koko
wabhekisa kunina emcela ukuba acacisele uKhawulenkosi ngomcimbi ababehlangene ngawo ukuze emva koko
	ababoleke igumbi bashiyeke bodwa bengamadoda.
	"Mh hayi ndiyeva bantwana bomkhuluwa, liyinene lona e-e
	kufanelekile ukuba zitshintshelwe egameni lendlalifa iincwadi zemfuyo kamfi, kuya kufuneka uziphe ithuba ke
	Bhaso ufike ngeentsuku zeveki kuvuliwe ezi ofisini ukuze
	kuqosheliswe lo mcimbi." Watsho njalo uKhawulenkosi
	akuba ephumile uMaMndaweni.
	"Intoni? uthini tatomncinci; kha uphinde andivanga
	uzakwenzantoni uBhaso ngokuvulwa kwee ofisi?" wabuza
	uSithonga ewakhuphe onke amehlo efuna ukuwanamathisela
	kuKhawulenkosi ebunzi.
	"Uza kuthabatha iincwadi zikayihlo kaloku nyana; aye ezi ofisini aye kuzitshintshela egameni lakhe." Waphendula ngalo hlobo uKhawulenkosi ezidenga ngabom, wayekubona
	ukufudumala kwaloo ntwana inguSithonga; kodwa
	njengegqala wayezimisele ukuthi chu nayo angayingxameli.
	"Ndiza kukhe ndimbone ke lo Bhaso wakho ukuba uza kuyenza njani na into yokutshintshela incwadi zemfuyo yam

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egameni lakhe.  Waphendula uSithonga ezama ukwehlisa umsindo, ekhumbula amazwi akhe athi inkulu zokwenene azizipapashi kwaye azonzakalisi bantu.
"Tatomncinci andiyazi into esibambene ngayo kuba buyahamba ubusuku, ndiza kwenza ngokomyalelo wakho, ndifike phakathi evekini ndizo kulungisa wonke lo mcimbi ezi ofisini." Watsho uBhaso.
"Ungazihluphi kuba uya kufika sendiwulungisile ndithetha ukuthi uya kufika yonke imfuyo katata se isegameni lam mna Sithonga Tyelomfula." Waphendula uSithonga.
"Nokuba iincwadi zikatata zemfuyo zingatshintshelwa emagameni abantu abalishumi elinesibhozo bebolekisana ngazo, owokugqibela noyena mnini wemfuyo iya kuba ndim mna Bhaso.  Bonke abafuna zibhalwe emagameni abo okwethutyana ndibanika le veki izayo kuphela benze loo mdlalo wabo, emva kwayo ndiza kufika ukuze zitshintshelwe egameni lam okokugqibela ngenene nangenyaniso."
"Tatomncinci kha undincede Nozulu omhle uchazele uBhaso ngamalungelo akhe kweli khaya, okanye mandithi mchazele ngemeko yakhe; mhlawumbi ndifumana ndimsola nje isi aram wenziwa kukungazi." Wathetha ngolo hlobo uSithonga ecenga uKhawulenkosi.
"Utsho ukungazi ntoni ke nyana?" wabuza uKhawulenkosi, "Akanakuyazi indlela eza ngayo kweli khaya kuba wayelusana."
"Wena; uyazelaphi wawungekabikho nje?" "Hayi kha umbuze tatomncinci, nangona le ncoko isikhupha nje kumcimbi esingawo wemfuyo ndiyayithanda kuba iyandihlekisa." Waphendula uBhaso batsho baphela yintsini benoKhawulenkosi.
"Kuyahlekwa nokuba kufiwe," watsho uSithonga
ebucaphuka phofu ezibambile, bamhleka ngakumbi akutsho.
"Nokuba wena tatomncinci ungathengisa ngobunkulu nobundlalifa bam kuBhaso, inene kuyayiwa ezulwini, ubumene-mene bakho uya kufika bukuvalele ungabinakungena; yhaye uza kuhamba uyithethile inyaniso kwakweli kuba akudlalwa maphetyu kaloku emthethweni?"

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Washwatyulelwa uKhawulenkosi nguSithonga.  "Ngathi kwanele okwanamhla bantwana bakabhuti lo mcimbi kuya kulunga ukhe uchotshelwe ngamadoda akwaKhesa.
"Uyawuv'umoya! namamene-mene ayakufuna ukuya ezulwini, ibe kuthiwa akungeni nasinye isono khona; ingakumbi esokuthengisa ngamalungelo am." Watsho uSithonga ephuma engasabulisanga nokubulisa njengoko kwakucacile ukuba sel'esiya kulala.
Ngemini elandelayo uMgqibelo aya kubizwa amadoda awayeqhelekile ekusingatheni imicimbi yelo khaya.  Kwakuvunyelwene ekubeni ibe nguye yena Khawulenkosi owaqokelelayo ukuze afike nawo kwaZakhele ngentsimbi yeshumi kwakusasa ngomgqibelo.  Esi sigqibo senziwa nguBhaso no Khawulenkosi.  Amadoda ayeselethe ngqwadalala ngasebuhlanti kwaZakhele kwangecala emva
	kweyethoba	ngoMgqibelo,	njengoko	yayilusuku
	lwentlanganiso	yekhaya	lakwaNozulu.	Yavulwa

ngamabal'engwe nguKhawulenkosi echazela loo madoda ayebiziwe ngembambano eyayikho phakathi koonyana bakaZakhele.  Ithuba elilandelayo lanikwa uBhaso kusithiwa makachazele ooyise ngento ababebambene ngayo nomninawa wakhe uSithonga, uBhaso wabetha komofu: "Bobawo abahloniphekileyo, njengokuba sisazi sonke ukuba ubawo uZakhele wasweleka eshiya mna noSithonga singonyana bakhe, ndingambali kangako ke noko uKhayakazi kuba nanjengomntwana oyintombazana uyakusoloko engumntwana wethu thina madoda.  Ndithe ndafumana ucingo lwemfono-mfono kuyo le veki iphelayo, lundibizela ekuzeni kulungiswa kweencwadi zemfuyo katata."
Wakha wee nqumama kweso sithuba uBhaso, kwaza njengoko kwakungekho mgcini sihlalo kulo ntlanganiso kwe cwaka okomzuzwana, ayana ngamehlo amadoda.
"Qhuba Nozulu simamele singooyihlo, kwaza kwathini ke?" Wathundeza watsho uBhavumla, anqwala iintloko onke amadoda ngaphandle kukaBhatyana noSithonga.
"Ndakuba ndifikile ngenjikalanga yayizolo ndiphinde ndawuva okwesibini lo myalezo, ndiwuva kwangomama esixelela sinoSithonga, ekuthe kwakungabikho mvisiswano

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ndathumela inkwenkwana ukuba iye kubiza ubawo uKhawulenkosi.  Ngamafuphi bobawo nilapha nje kungenxa yemvisiswano ethe ayabikho kwintlanganiswana ebe sinayo ngobusuku bayizolo singamadoda amathathu."
"Yimvisiswano yantoni na le usifundekela ngayo kwedini? kwacaca ukuba siza kutshonelwa lilanga sizama ukumamela into engavakaliyo uphikele ukuphinda-phinda into enye?"
Yenza kuhle Bhavumla mfokabawo, myeke umntwan'omkhuluwa asichazele kakuhle ukuze kungathi sekuphambili engxoxweni kufuneke sibuyele emva kuba kukho izinto ebesingaziqondanga kakuhle kwasekuqaleni."
Wanqanda ngelitshoyo uDayimane, watsho ecela uBhaso ukuba aqhube nentetho yakhe.

"Hi bafondini! ukuba ndive kakuhle ndiba kuthiwa ebemathathu amadoda kulo nomgogwana wentlanganiso ebilapha ngobusuku bayizolo, endifuna ukuyiqonda ke, ndinguBhatyana yeyokuba sinyanzelwe yintoni ukuba siphulaphule umntu omnye?  Bayephi ababini?"
"Unyanisile Bhatyana, kwaye kungekudala uza konyulwa ube ngusihlalo wale ntlanganiso kuba kuyacaca ukuba wazi lukhulu nangale yayizolo, yaye phambi kokuba ichithakale le yanamhlanje ndingathanda ucacisele la madoda ngohlobo lwentlanganiso engunomgogwana, unganeli kwenjenjalo use usinika igama lale sikuyo namhlanje, ingaba ndiyaphazama xa ndiqashela ndisithi uza kuthi ngunomgogo?" Gquzu-u intsini.

"Andithi kunjalo Bhatyana?" waphikelela wabuza uDayimane engaboni nanye ehlekisayo.  Amadoda abehle aphawula ukuba wayengadlali akhawuleza ecwaka.
"Ndifuna ukuxhasa uBhatyana ekuthini kungakuhle khe sive enye indoda kula amanye amabini, uKhawulenkosi noSithonga, kodwa phambi kokuba ndenjenjalo ndithanda ukuthabatha eli thutyana ndiyale nayiphina indoda ekhoyo apha ukuba iwakhethe amazwi ema iwabhekise kuthi singamadoda, xa ithe yanikwa okanye yazinika ithuba lokuthetha.  Sikhumbule mawethu ukuba siphethe umcimbi obalulekileyo wendoda eyayihloniphekile, isihloniphile sonke".  Ancwina amadoda avakalisa ukumngqinela

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2

I
I

2

uDayimane."Betha komofu Sithonga uthabathise apho ashiye khona umkhuluwa wakho uBhaso," walekela wayalela uDayimane.
"Ngamafuphi bobawo umcimbi esingawo apha; nebesingawo ngesiqingatha sobusuku bayizolo ngowokutshintshwa kweencwadi zemfuyo katata zitshintshelwe kwindlalifa yakhe."
"Ke; yintoni ingxaki mazitshintshwe kaloku, nithetha ukuba lonke eli thuba iincwadi zemfuyo zisabiza umfi?" Wayithabatha lula ngolo hlobo lo nyewe uBhavumla.
"Phendula kaloku Sithonga, uyabuza uBhavumla ukuba yintoni ingxaki ekutshintshweni kweencwadi," wancedisa uKhawulenkosi emva kwethuba elide ethe cwaka eqwalasele phantsi.
"Ingxaki bobawo abahloniphekileyo ibe kukuphikisana kwethu ngalo mbandela."
"Cacisa mntwan'omkhuluwa niphikisana nabani?" Kwabuza uBhavumla.
"Kuyacaca Sithonga ukuba ndifunda kakuhle kwintetho yakho ukuba kukho ukuphikisana nokungevani kulo mcimbi, ke ukuze singadideki ndicinga ukuba iyakuba bubulumko ukuba khe sive kumfo kabawo uKhawulenkosi ngempikiswano ethe yabakho kwanengxaki athe wahlangabezana nayo ekusombululeni lo mpikiswano, asixelele kanjalo inani namagama abaphikisani.  Ngalo ndlela kuya kubalula kuthi ukuba sibanike ithuba ngamnye basanekele ingxaki nezimvo zabo ngalo mcimbi, betha soje Khawulenkosi." Wawenza khaphu khaphu ngolo hlobo uDayimane umcimbi, watsho onke amadoda agungqa kwindawo awayehleli kuzo ezama ukuhlala ngolonahlobo luzinzileyo nawayenokuthi eve ngcono xa ahleli ngalo.
Kweso sithuba kwafika uKhayakazi echwechwa ngentlonipho ephethe iphetshana awafika walifumbathisa uDayimane.  UDayimane walifunda nje iphetshana wanqwala intloko kuKhayakazi ukubonakalisa ukuba wayewubambile umyalezo, waza emva kokuba emkile uKhayakazi watolikela amadoda ngombhalo owawusephetshaneni nowawubabizela endlwini ukuze bafumane okusiwa phantsi kwempumlo.

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Emva kwesidlo kwangena uMaMndaweni waqokelela izitya; wabuya waphuma ngokukhawuleza.  Ngenxa yemo yezulu eyayithande ukuba maxongo, awazange abe saphindela ngasebuhlanti amadoda.  Ingxoxo yaba sel'iqhutyelwa khona apho endlwini.
"Besesikunikile ke mfokabawo, Khawulenkosi ithuba lokuba ukhe unabe kabanzi ngalo mcimbi," wawakhumbuza ngolo hlobo uDayimane amawabo.  Wasukuma uKhawulenkosi wenza amabal'engwe ecacisela amadoda ngempikiswano eyayiphakathi koonyana bakaZakhele, esitsho nokutsho ukuthi angavuya xa benokunikwa ithuba ngamnye bachaze eyona ngxaki yabo.  Ithuba lokuqala lanikwa uBhaso nowathi wayandlalela wenjenje intetho yakhe.
"Enkosi bobawo ngeli thuba, ndiza kubaponi kuba andingethandi ukuphinda ndingxoliselwe ukuphindaphinda into enye.  Njengoko sesivile sonke lifikile ixa lokuba zitshintshwe iincwadi zemfuyo egameni likatata zintshintshelwe kwinkulu yakhe." Ithuba elilandelayo lanikwa uSithonga, nowaphakama wamangalisa loo madoda ayelapho ngentetho yakhe eyaba mfutshane kunene esithi iincwadi zemfuyo mazitshintshelwe egameni lenkulu, oko kukuthi indlalifa kaZakhele.  Kwaphendula uBhavumla, phofu engaphakamanga esihlalweni sakhe.
"Uthetha ukuthi mntwan'omkhuluwa e-e ukuba ndikuva kakuhle, akufuni netakane elinye kwengaka yona imfuyo kayihlo?"
Ngelo xesha onke amehlo amadoda ayethe ntsho kuSithonga ekhwankqisiwe yaye kwakubonakala mhlophe ukuba ayelindele impendulo ngamehlo abomvu.
"Anditshongo tat'uBhavumla."
"Uthini kanti?" waphinda wabuza uBhavumla.  Cwaka.
"Ngathi nizakusitsalisa nzima makwedini, Sithonga ngubani inkulu kaZakhele?  Yibize ngegama," wathetha ngolo hlobo uKhawulenkosi ediza ulwazi awayesel'enalo ngalo mcimbi.  Onke amehlo ayejonge kuSithonga.  Waphendula ngokufutshane esithi kumzi ngamnye ekuzelwe amakwenkwe iyaziwa endala oko kukuthi eyinkulu, watsho

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esithi ngulowo kaZakhele kuphela umzi e'yayingaziwa inkulu yawo.  Kwaphendula uBbhatyana esithi uyaqala okokoko wathi wazalwa ukuyibona indoda enethamsanqa lelaka nje ngoSithonga, umntu onunuswa ngemfuyo engayifuni esitsho ngomlomo wakhe esithi ma inikwe uBhaso yonke, walekela ngelithi akayiboni konke into eyayibangela ukuba kude kutshone ilanga ngento elula kangako.
"Unokuba undive kakubi tat'ubhatyana, anditshongo mna ukuba ma inikwe uBhaso yonke imfuyo katata, koko ndithe ma inikwe inkulu kaZakhele." Waphendula watsho uSithonga.
"Umahluko yintoni?" Kwabuza uDayimane ebucaphuka.
"Hayi kha ubuze Nozulu," waphekisa uBhavumla.
"Bendikhe ndatsho mntwan'omkhuluwa ndathi biza inkulu kaZakhele ngegama, wonqena ntoni? ukuba akutshongo ukuba ma inikwe uBhaso.  Uthi ma inikwe bani? khona uBhaso wohluke ngani kwinkulu kaZakhele?  Asiyonto inye leyo?" Yana ngolo hlobo imvula yemibuzo ivela kuKhawulenkosi nowayesel'eyazi impendulo, ebuzela nje amadoda awayengekayazi.
"Inkulu kaZakhele nguSithonga Tyelomfula, yaye kufuneka kungaphoziswanga maseko zitshintshelwe egameni lakhe incwadi zemfuyo kaZakhele." Watsho uSithonga kaTyelomfula eguge ebusweni.  "Nizivele ke nonke mawethu, kwaye ma ndithabathe eli thuba ndinibulele ngokusabela kwenu ndakuba ndinibizile, ndibe nengxaki enkulu ngobusuku bayizolo ndizama ukusombulula esi sintsompothi, ndoyisakala." Wabulela watsho uKhawulenkosi kumawabo.
"Andiyiboni into ekoyisileyo Nozulu, kuba wazi mhlophe ukuba inkulu kaZakhele nguBhaso, qwaba ke." Kwaphendula uBhavumla esiye kuphuma ngomnyango.  Kwathi cwaka endlwini wada wabuya uBhavumla.  Ekungeneni kwakhe wahlaselwa nguKhawulenkosi engekahlali naphansi esithi: "Wena uthi inkulu kaZakhele nguBhaso, uSithonga uthe izolo, kwaye usatsho nangoku uthi inkulu kaZakhele nguSithonga Tyelomfula, ibelapho kanye ke ingxaki yam, ndingamazi oyena mandimse komkhulu." Kweso sithuba kwangena uKhayakazi eze kukhanyisa

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isibane, kwaye ayesel'ebhekabheka amadoda kucace mhlophe ukuba nangona wawubonakalisa ubushushu umcimbi, lase lixhatshwe yinja ixesha.
Kweso sithuba kwavunyelwana ekubeni ikhe inqunyanyiswe loo ntlanganiso de ibe lusuku olwaluya kuvakaliswa nguDayimane.

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10.

Isiguqo Sengxelo Yezono


Undabamlonyeni kuzo zonke ezo lalana zingqonge iMt. Hargreaves yayikukungevani koonyana bakaZakhele bebanga ilifa.  Abafazana emilanjeni, amagqobhoka ukuphuma kwecawa, nakuzo zonke iindawo apho kwakuthi kudibane abantu ababini nangaphezulu, kwakungasekho nto yimbi ngaphandle kwendaba yakwaZakhele.  Bambi babehleka besithi, "Wayengenwe yintoni kambe yena uZakhele ukuthi efunde kangaka wada wawela nezilwandle, angasayini iwili?" Yayisaziwa yilali yonke into yokuba uSithonga noyena umncinane nguye owayebanga ubunkulu nobundlalifa.
"Yhi bethuni, niyithatha kancinane nje lento kungenzeka ukuba ziyamshiya iingqondo umntakaZakhele." Bambi babehleka bephoxisa, besithi yayingebobulumko ukuba ithiwe paha-ha loo nto kuba uSithonga wayesengozini yokuphelelwa ngumsebenzi wobufundisi-ntsapho: "Akukho namnye umzali osezingqondweni onokuvuma umntwana wakhe afundiswe ngumntu ongqondo zingathanga dadobawo kakuhle."
Babebodwa ababesithi makhe kuncwinwe uMaMndaweni akhe anabe banzi ngale ntetho kaSithonga, abo ke babekhawuleza bevalwe imilomo ngabo babemazi uyisemkhulu wabo bantwana uPhumezo, nofoto yakhe yayinguBhaso.
Makhe sibashiye benjalo mfundi omhle oondabazabantu,
siye kukhangela ukuba uqhuba njani na namalungiselelo 
entlanganiso uDayimane.  Umntu owamnika ingxaki kula malungiselelo uDayimane, nguBhaso; iimpelaveki eziliqela ezazilandela umhla wentlanganiso wacela uxolo kuDayimane esithi akanakuphumelela ukuya kowabo kuba wayesel'ezicwangcisele micimbi yimbi neyayikwabalulekile ebomini bakhe kwanje ngalo welifa.
"Ewe ndiyakuva ta'mnci, yhaye ndivumelana nawe ukuba ubalulekile lo mcimbi welifa," simcaphula ethetha ngolu hlobo noDayimane ngemfonomfono.  "Kodwa ndilusizi ukuthi kuwe ikho neminye imicimbi ebalulekileyo ebomini bam; kwanje ngalo welifa kanti eminye ibaluleke nangaphezu kwawo."
"Yiyiphi ke ngoku leyo Bhaso mntwan'omkhuluwa wam?  Ingaba se ufuna umfazi? ilungile naleyo ingcamango Nozulu; kodwa ke iyakuthi ukuze ihambe kakuhle siqale siqoshel" pip... pip ... pip ... pip zacima intambo zabelungu isathetha ithrayibali yabantu, yafumana yema apho ijonge imfonomfono ixakwe yinto ema iyenze.
"Kutheni tat'uNozulu unengxaki." Kwabuza umka mfundisi.
"Isuke yathula le ntwana e-e wena mama kukhala nje intsimbi ngoku andisayiva yona."
"Beka phantsi tata luvalekile." Yamvuyisa gqitha umka mfundisi into yokuvaleka kocingo kuba kakade wayehleli ebambe amazinyo esoyika ukunyuka kwentlawulo.
Le ntetho kaBhaso ihlanganiswe nokuzinqabisa kwakhe kowabo yabangela ukubethabethana kweengqondo zabantu abayivayo, bathi nababezimisele ukuba ngakwicala lakhe kulo mcimbi kuba bengayiboni enye inkulu kaZakhele bathanda ukubhideka.  Kwakusenokwenzeka ukuba noBhaso wayezazi ukuba akayiyo indlalifa kaZakhele, ukuba kwakungenjalo, wayebaleka ntoni kowabo ngexesha elalibaluleke kangaka?  Wayigcina igquba ngolo hlobo imiqala yabantu uBhaso kuba babezilangazelela bezilindele ngamnyama wona amehlo iziphumo zalo mbambano yabo nomnakwabo uSithonga.  UMaMndaweni yena wayebhitye ebanga usizi, wayethe rhoqo ukuya ecaweni ngeecawa

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nasezinkonzweni zomanyano ngolwezine.  Abantu babeyiva kuphela xa athandazayo ingxaki nobuhlungu bentliziyo yakhe, kwakucace mhlophe ukuba wayengazimiselanga kuyithetha namntu.  Wayephuma aye ngqo emzini wakhe, nto leyo yayingaqhelekanga empilweni yakhe ngenxa yobubele
	nobuntu bakhe.  Into yokungayithethi mntwini intlungu yakhe uMaMndaweni yabangela ukuba abe madol'wanzima nokumsela umthandazo amakholwa.
Umzi wakwaZakhele wothuswa sisimemo esasivela
	kuBhaso siwumemela kuthweso zidanga, nje ngoko wayephumelele izifundo ze Hons kwezolimo.  Kwaya uMaMndaweni noKhayakazi kuphela kolo thweso zidanga, uDayimane wakhulula inkosikazi yakhe ukuba ibakhaphe.
	Wayekho noThozama kulomcimbi ehamba nomyeni wakhe.  Emva kothweso zidanga wagaleleka uBhaso ehamba ngonyanyavu lwemoto, into eyayisithi ibaleka inge imi.
	Wafika wayithi shwebelele ukuyimisa ecaleni kweveni kayise eyayisetyenziswa nguSithonga.  Kwathi bhence elalini ngabantu befuna ukuzibonela ngamehlo olo ndwendwe
	lwalufika kwaTyelomfula luhamba ngenjalo yona ukubantle imoto.  Ilali yonke yalala se iyazi into yokuba ude wafika
	uBhaso emva kwexesha elide kangaka ebalekana nekhaya.  UDayimane wakhawuleza wathumela imiyalezo kumawabo
	ukuba maze ancede aphelele kwaTyelomfula ngentsimbi yethoba ngemini elandelayo uMgqibelo.  Lathi libetha icala emva kweyesibhozo aye sel'ephelele onke amadoda
	akwaKhesa, nto leyo eyabangela ukuba kungabanjezelwa mnxilo itshaywe isaqhuma.
Ithuba    lokuqala   lokuthetha    lanikwa     uSithonga,
      nowabonakalisa isibindi nokuzola.  Watyatyadula ecacisa
	ngobunkulu nobundlalifa bakhe, emkhuphela ngaphandle
      umkhuluwa wakhe esithi wayengenalungelo konke
     kwaTyelomfula kuba wayesisiza nanina.  Wathi nje
ngomntwana owazalelwa kulonina uBhaso, ilifa lakhe
lalikulonina kwaMotaung.  Ajongana amadoda wambi ee
nkebe imilomo yilo ntetho kaSithonga.  Ngaphandle
kwamathandabuzo wayephume kwenye into uSithonga,
kwaye ubunyaniso babungengqinwe okanye buphikwe ndoda.

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Isizathu saba yintlaninge yemizekelo yabantwana abanjalo abazalelwa emakulonina.  Yinyaniso ukuba uninzi lwabantwana ludla ngokushiyeka kumakonina xa ithe intombazana leyo yenda emva kokuba izele umntwana lowo.  Kweso sithuba kwaphendula uDayimane esithi uBhaso wayengenakufaniswa nabo bonke abo bantwana babefunyanelwa emakhaya ngamantombazana ze emva koko ende, wathi uBhaso wayengunyana kaZakhele, nokuba wayezalelwe kulonina okanye kuloyise.
"Ndihleli kwesi sihlalo nje ndiyayicinga madoda le nto ithethwa nguSithonga," yayinguBhavumla lowo "kwaye ndifuna ukuthi kuni bafo bakatata kufuneka sichule ukunyathela kulo mcimbi, singayani nento eyakha okanye eyenziwa kweminye imizi.  Kufuneka senze umthetho nesiko."
"Uthini na Bhavumla?", wawuphuma kuKhawulenkosi loo mbuzo, "uthi kufuneka senze umthetho nesiko?, singazenza njani ezo zinto zimbini ngaxesha nye?"
"Kungokuba sizakuthini ke Nozulu?" wabuya waphendula ebuza uBhavumla ebudana.  Wayiphawula le nto uKhawulenkosi waza ngezwi elingxengxezayo wathetha wenjenje: "Undiva ndibuza ngolu hlobo nje Nozul'omhle ndenziwa kukubhideka, enyanisweni nam ngokwam andiqinisekanga nokuba siza kuwugweba ngokwesiko lo mcimbi nokuba siza kuwugweba ngokomthetho.  Ukuba siza kuwugweba ngokwesiko, lithini isiko?  Ilela kwabani lona elo siko?  Ndibuza kuba zange ibekho imbambano enje apha kwaTyelomfula.  Kanti ke kwelinye icala singawugweba ngokomthetho lo mcimbi, uthini wona umthetho?"
Yabashushu kakhulu ingxoxo yaloo mini amadoda ephikisana ebeka imizekelo akha ayibona isenzeka malunga nabantwana abazalelwe ekhaya.  "Ndinomzekelo okufuphi mna madoda," wasukuma wathetha ngolo hlobo uBhatyana ezama ukufaka isandla ekusombululeni ingqxaki yakwaZakhele.  "Oodade wethu bobathathu baqala ngokuzalela ekhaya, emva koko bafikelela kwizigqibo zokuba mabende, abantwana babo bobathathu baphaya kulaa mzi kabawo kwaye ndibathabatha nje ngabantwana bam." "Bafikelela kwizigqibo zokuba mabendele koobani oodade

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wenu abo, mandithi bendela kuloo madoda ayebenzakalisile nokuba mhlawumbi babuya bakhetha amanye?" Wabuza uKhawulenkosi.
"Hayi Nozulu torhwana Nozulu bakhetha madoda wambi, kuba lo uphakathi yena lamkhanyela isoka kanti lo umdala yena..."
"Kwanele; enkosi ndiyabulela umzekelo wakho awunandawo kulo mcimbi singawo namhlanje, ndiyacinga ukuba onke amadoda ayakungqina oko." Wavalwa ngolo hlobo uBhatyana umlomo nguKhawulenkosi.  Kwakubonakala ukuphangela kwamagxa kumadoda athile.
"Mna inkosikazi yam ndayifumana se inomntwana oyintombazana, uNomahobe ndiyacinga ukuba niyamazi nonke kaloku ngulo ubelotyolwa kule veki iphelileyo.  Lo mntwana ndimthatha nje ngomntwana wam."
"Yenza kuhle Teboho mfo ndini musa ukusichithela ixesha, uyatsho nawe uthi umthabatha nje ngomntwana wakho akutsho ukuthi ngumntwana wakho.  Isizathu soko sesibekiwe kwanguwe uthi inkosikazi yakho wayifumana se inaye lo mntwana, oko kuthi yakhuleliswa yenye indoda yaza yabaleka.  Wafika wena wazicholela, inceba owaba nayo uvuziwe ngayo kuba ufumene iinkomo ezisibhozo ezihambayo kule veki iphelileyo kwakunye nesityhwentye semali." YayinguDayimane lowo enqanda indoda yakulo Mshweshwe kumzekelo wayo.  "Ee uxolo Mahlub'amahle nam ndithi makhe ndiphose amazwana xa ndifika umzi kabawo usengxakini".  Igama lale ndoda iphosa amazwana lalinguBhobhotyana kwaye yayisuka kwenye yezo lalana zamaHlubi ekuthiwa yiDengwane.  Yayihambele apho emishini ngamcimbi wumbi, yathi ke ngokubona amadoda aliqela kwaZakhele yaya kuzidlulisa khona.  "lqhelekile ukwenzeka into elolu hlobo kwimizi ngemizi kwaye... " "Utsho into eloluphi uhlobo mnumzana?" Kwabuza uBhavumla ebhekisa kuBhobhotyana.
"Hlala phanzi maan Bhobhotyana uza kuzenza intlekisa ngokubhuda, kakade umenywe ngubani kulo mcimbi?  Se uyigqibile le ub'uyizele emishini yokuza kucelela umntwana indawo yokuza kufunda ibanga leshumi?  Khona yinene le

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ndiyivileyo yokuba lo mntwana uze kumcelela ukufunda ibanga leshumi akalipasanga elethoba apho ebefunda khona kwaBhaca?"
Ngeli thuba onke amehlo ayejonge kuBhobhotyana owayelaqaza into engabonwayo eswele umngxuma awayenokuzingcwaba kuwo etsarhwa yimibuzo kaDayimane.  Yayisel'ingumdudo wononkala intlanganiso, bambi babezincokolela ndaba zimbi, bambi behleka uBhobhotyana bebuzana ngemvelaphi yakhe.  Abaninzi bafumana nethuba lokufakela iinqawa zabo ezase zicimile.
"Inzwi madoda, ndibehle ndayibona le yanamhlanje intlanganiso ukuba iyakude, ibonakale ngokuthi kuyekwe owona mcimbi besize ngawo kusuke kuvulwe isiguqo sengxelo yezono.  Amadoda afumana ithuba lokupenyulula amanyal ... ee ... gxebe indaba zemizi yawo.  Kuyo yonke ke le mizekelo ibibekwa apha andiwuboni osisondeza ekusombululeni ingxaki esingayo.  Ngalo mazwi kanye ke mawethu ndivumeleni ndinike uBhaso eli thuba akhe enze amazwi.
"Enkosi tata, amazwi yiyona nto ndingasenayo, umsebenzi ondilindeleyo ngoku nowona ndiwubuyeleyo ngowokuba nditshintshele egameni lam iincwadi zemfuyo katata." Watsho ehlala phantsi uBhaso.  Onke amehlo ajonga kuSithonga.
"Inkulu kaZakhele inye ndim," waphakama ngathi uyagityiselwa uSithonga engabanga salinda nokunikwa ithuba lokuthetha.  "Yaye okokoko wathi wasweleka utata yonke imicimbi yalaph'ekhaya efuna umnini mzi yenziwa ndim.  Ndim oxhelela abantwana xa barhalela inyama, nowenza ufefe emva kwesikhungo nangee mini athi abekho ngazo uBhaso.  Obunye ubungqina obuphuphumayo bobunkulu bam yiveni katata eyathatyathwa ndim ngaphandle kwezixakaxaka ukusweleka kwakhe.  Oko ndakwenzayo nendikwenzayo andikwenziswa bubujama nkungwini; ndikwenza kuba ndiyintloko yomzi!"
"Intliziyo yam ibuhlungu yonzakele gqitha madoda; umphefumulo wam uwile leli hlazo lizakwenzeka kulo mzi kabawo namhla nje." Wathetha ngalo hlobo uDayimane ekhathazekile.

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"Ndijongile nje kuza kunyanzeleka ukuba ugqithiselwe kwabomthetho lo mcimbi, yaye ngokomthetho kufuneka uqale kwasibonda ibe nguye owugqithisela komkhulu xa uthe wamoyisa."
Kwakungasekho mntu wayengayazi indaba yakwaTyelomfula.  Ziyawoyika kaloku umbethe.  Usibonda lalimyile engasalali buthongo buhlayo esoyika usuku owawuyakuthi uze kothulwa kuye loo mcimbi.  Nje ngomntu owayenengqondo eyayibhabhela phantsi umntakaBhungane lo wayesazi ukuba wayengenakho ukuvela nangonwele kumcimbi owawoyise uDayimane noKhawulenkosi.  Loo madoda mabini ayehlonitshwa nayinkosi ngokwayo ngokusebenzisa ephantsi kwezankwane zawo.
Wacela uxolo uBhaso esithi ukruqukile kukusoloko usuka ngapha eMt.  Ayliff ebuyela imbudede nemfathufathu enjalo, wathi yayimininzi eminye imicimbi ekwakufuneka eyiqwalasele.  Wathi sel'eyakuva ngabo xa sebevela kwasibonda; kanti nakomkhulu wayengazimisele kuya wayeya koyiswa ngumthetho.
"Uyakuthini kwedini ukuthi yimbudede nemfathumfathu ekubeni siyeke imisebenzi yethu size kunceda wena? e-e gxebe nina bantwana bomkhuluwa?" Wazincama wabuza uBhatyana emva kwethuba elide agqibelayo ukuthabatha inxaxheba engxoxweni ngenxa yokoyika ukungxoliswa nguDayimane, enyanisweni nangeloxa wayebuza lo mibuzo kuBhaso iliso lakhe laligxeleshe uDayimane.  Wazigobha amacala akumbona enqwala nqwala intloko ukuvumelana naye.  Kwathi zole cwaka emva koko kwabonakala ukuba icekwa lalinoBhaso ekuphenduleni umbuzo kaBhatyana.
"Bobawo ndilapha nje ndilapha kuba ndinihlonipha, kwaye nangaphezu koko oyena mntu ndimhlonipha nangaphezulu ngumfi ozala mna, ndiyayihlonipha kwaye ndiyithanda imfuyo yakhe.  Le mfuyo ndiyithanda kuba iyekatata kwaye iselungelweni lam, ukuba bekungenjalo ngendinipha yona ndisithi yabelanani ngayo.  Nje ngenkwenkwe enezidanga kwezolimo ezikwabandakanya nezemfuyo, ayindifanelanga konke konke lemfuyo katata kuba yimigqutsubana nje yasezilalini.  Zingandihleka de ziye kusela amanzi iintanga

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zam ukuba zingayiva okanye zibone le mfuyo kuthiwa ndiyibanga ingelolungelo lam, mhlawumbi zingandicebisa ukuba mandiyiyekele kulowo uyibangayo."
"Ungayiyeki nje?" wayawaphazamisa uBhatyana.
"Uthetha phi ngoku tat'Bhatyana? ndingayiyeka njani imfuyo yam?  Unotshe; andingeyenzi loo nto ndizakunilinda nje de nigqibe yonke le mf... e ... e mandithi ke emva koko ndoqala ukuyiphucula le mfuyo yam ngokufuna iinkunzi zohlobo, kodwa ngokuqinisekileyo uninzi lwayo ndiza kuluthumela efandesini ingakumbi inkabi eziya."
"Mna?"
"Ukuthi kwakho."

"Nditsho kuba kaloku ndim owalusa imfuyo yalapha kwaTyelomfula." Ayithintitha amadoda intsini, nditsho mna nalawo aziwa ngokuzola nesidima adizwa kukufuquza kwamagxa.
"Uthini na Nozulu? uthi ingxaki yakho kukuphelelwa sisonka kuba kuza kuphatha bhulu limbi?" Lombuzo wawubuza egigitheka ephelile yintsini uBhavumla, ngokucacileyo wayengacengi ndolalaphi nakwabo babecinga ukuba bawuphethe ngocwangco lo mcimbi beman'ukungxolisa ababhoxayo.  Wahleka waphuma waya kwenza amanzi phandle.  Ekubuyeni kwakhe wacela indlela esithi naye kwanje ngonyana lowo womkhuluwa wakhe wayeneminye imicimbi ekwakufuneka eyiqwalasele, watsho esithi njengoko kwakubonakele ukuba wawungasabalingene lo mcimbi wayesel'eyakuva ngabo xa sekophulwe.  Ayana ngamehlo amadoda.  Kwafikelelwa ezigqibeni zokuba ma ugqithiselwe kwasibonda umcimbi nje ngoko kwakungekho mvisiswano koonyana bakaZakhele.  Aya ngokuncipha amadoda kuba noTeboho wazicelela uxolo sithi usaya kwenza amalungiselelo okwenzela unyana wakhe imbeleko.
USithonga wavakalisa isimemo esasivela eNgcobo kwaThozama somtshato womninwa womyeni kaThozama, wayezimisele ukuya kulo-mtshato kwaye wayeza kuphekisa ngeenkabi zegusha ezimbini.  Wanqandwa kakubi nguKhawulenkosi esithi angakhe alinge nangengozi achukumise netakane eli emfuyweni, wathi ukuba

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wayenqwenela ukuphekisa kwaThozama wayenokwenjenjalo ngemali yakhe nanje ngendoda eyayikroba efestileni kumnyango karhulumente wezemfundo nyanga zonke.  Wathi makalinde de zitshintshelwe egameni lakhe iincwadi zemfuyo ngokusemthethweni.








                                       11

"Mh-h.  Hayi Kunzima."


Umcimbi wemfuyo yakwa Tyelomfula wachotshelwa ngusibonda namadoda aliqela, ayeliqela kuba yayilithubaleholide ze kresimesi ebuyile namadoda athile ukuvela esilungwini.  Kwagqitywa ekubeni angakhathazwa ngakubizwa uBhaso; ayekwe njengoko wayephangela kude nekhaya. lbhungane lefreeway lawandlala nje umcimbi lawunikela emadodeni awuxovula.  UBhaso wayengayekanga ukubuya ekhaya xa athe waziva ethanda ukwenjenjalo, into awayeyimisele isibhozo kukuya enkundleni kwasibonda.  Wakhe wancwinwa ngenye imini nguKhayakazi efuna ukuqonda unobangela wokungayi kwakhe kwasibonda kumcimbi owawumchaphazela kangakanana.  Waphendula ngelithi akanazo iindlebe zokumamela imbudede yetribals.
"Uthetha ukuba nobhut'Sithonga umbandakanya nalamadoda elali nangona ayititshala?" wabuza uKhayakazi.
"Akabandakanywa ndim uzibandakanya yena ngezenzo zakhe, ukuba ubengumfundi uSithonga nge engekho kula ngxaki akuyo namhlanje."
"Kaloku abantu abafani bhuti wam musa ukuthi kuba wena uphiwe ingqondo, wafunda wada wafumana imfundo enomsila ubahleke abanye."
"Andimhleki; kwaye xa ndithetha ngokufunda andithethi ngakuphumelela mabanga, kha undiphe apha Kazi; wakha wambona uSithonga efunda iphephandaba?  Wakha wambona

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efunda nokuba yinoveli ke?  Ndibuye ndize kuwe ziziphi ezinye incwadi okhe uzifunde ngaphandle kwezi zesikolo nezisisinyanzelo kumfundi ngamnye?"
"Ndiza kuzithatha phi ezinye?"
Andizange ndakuva nangemini enye ucela imali; okanye ke mandithi usithi ma ndikuphathele incwadi ethile onomdla kuyo ngaphandle kwezi zesikolo."
"Ndifanele andazi ncwadi zimbi ngaphandle kwazo kaloku."
"Unyanisile kodwa shame Kazi, mhlawumbi nam ndinetyala.  Cwangcisa kakuhle imicimbi yakho, ndiza kucela umama akuvumele ukhe undindwendwele eMt Ayliff, kukhona ndiyakufumana ithuba ke ndikujikelezise kumathala eencwadi endiwaziyo.  Mhlawumbi uyakuzuza lukhulu, mandithi ngokuqinisekileyo uyakuvuna lukhulu."
"He-e ukonakala kwenye kukulunga kwenye, undincedile lo mcimbi welifa kuba ke ngaphandle kwawo ngesingakhange sifikelele kule ncoko." "Yinene emsulwa leyo noSithonga  uyalufuna ulwazi oluphangaleleyo kweze ntlalojikelele."
Nanku umama esiza bhuti wam masiyiyeke le ncoko."
"Umthwalo wabamkhulu emagxeni kasibonda kuba amadoda awayethembele kuwo kwimicimbi efuze lo, ayesel'edikwe yeyokosa.  Umcimbi wawuqale kuwo; kwaye nangona ayengaliphumezi kwakucacile ukuba ayefuna ukunika umzi ngokubanzi ithuba lokuzifikisela kulo mcimbi.  Waba ngacenga usibonda ecela uDayimane, uKhawulenkosi nokuba nguBhavumla, bonke bazilandula ngelithi ukuba bebeyazi impendulo ngebengawugqithiselanga kuloo nkundla lo mcimbi kuba ngowakwaKhesa.  Bathi usibonda kunye noninzi lwamadoda awayelapho mabawuxovule ze emva koko banike isigwebo.  Wayengenakunika sigwebo usibonda kuba impendulo zamadoda zazibethabethana; esiwa ngokuwa.
I    Umntaka Bhungane wayengazanga wayiqhelisa ukutsala
nzima ingqondo yakhe, ububonda bakhe ubukhulu becala babubelekwa ziingqondi esesive kakhulu ngazo.  Ngaphandle kwamacebo negalelo lazo kwimicimbi enje, wayetshabalele.  Kwakunyanzelekile ukuba aphume nezwi usibonda, kwakucace nokolukhasela eziko ukuba elo yayilithuba lakhe.

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"Makaphakame eme ngeenyawo zawo zombini amadoda athi ilifa lakwaTyelomfula lemfuyo, oko kukuthi iinkomo, iigusha, amahashe, iimbongolo, iibhokwe, iihagu, iinkukhu, izinja kwakunye neekati lelikaSithonga." Cwaka, zole.  Zange kubekho ndoda isukumayo.  Waginya amathe usibonda; ewaginya ebucaphuka noko, ukuba onke lo madoda ayegqiba kwelokuba yayilelika Bhaso ilifa, ayebangelwa yintoni ukuba angatsho ngemilomo yawo?  Kwakucacile ukuba ayevotela uBhaso.  Gezana lithile lomfanyana walo lali nelaye lisebenza eDalton kwelaseNatala likwatyholwa ngokutshaya elabathwa, lavakala lidumzela kulomxukuxela walo madoda.
"Mh-h.  Hayi kunzima.  Inene kuthanda ukwenyukela ndifung'umkhwekazi wam." Ngalo lonke elothuba yayingusibonda yedwa owayemi ngeenyawo zakhe zombini ngabula yena, ebakabakaza kucacile noko ukuba yayingazalanga ibhekile.
Wayeza kuyizalisa ngantoni bethu?
"Mabaphakame abavotela uBhaso," ladanduluka inxila lentsangu.  Ayana ngamehlo amadoda, wambi aphela yintsini, phofu ehlekela phantsi okwamanene, fuqu fuqu fuqu fuqu amagxa.
"Kuyacaca maHlub'amahle ukuba ilifa lemfuyo kaZakhele lelikaBhaso, nangona uluvo lwenu ningathandanga kuluvakalisa ngemilomo yenu, kodwa ngesenzo sokungasukumi ndakuphakamisa igama likaSithonga nilubonakalisile uluvo lwenu." La mazwi wawathetha ebile xhopho usibonda nangona yayikho impepho epholileyo eyayivela ngasemvenyane.  Usibonda wacela uBhavumla ukuba akhe enze amazwana ngalo mbandela.  UBhavumla wazicelela uxolo esithi uqaqanjelwa sisisini sezinyo awayelikhuphe kwiveki ephelileyo, wathi endaweni yakhe ucela uDayimane ukuba enze loo mazwana ayefunwa ngusibonda. uDayimane naye waphakama wacela uxolo kumntakaBhungane esithi umcimbi ngokwakhe ukubona wawusesezandleni zikasibonda, watsho esithi yayiyakuba bubulumko kusibonda ukuba alisebenzise icebo lomfana wakwandlela (inxila lentsangu) ukuze aqiniseke ukuba azwinye amadoda.

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"Mabaphakame abathi lelikaBhaso ilifa," watshothoza watsho usibonda esebenzisa icebo likaDayimane.  Akuzange kuphakame nanye indoda ngaphandle kukasibonda.
"Uxolo botata bam, ndifuna ukuqonda ukuba utat'usibonda yena ukweliphi na, nditsho kuba ngokuya bekufanele ukusukuma abavotela uSithonga nguye yedwa obemi ngeenyawo, nangoku sifuna ukubona abakaBhaso, isekwanguye yedwa omi ngeenyawo.  Kuqhubeka ntoni kanye?  Hayi ndiyabuza." Waphinda wazipha ithuba umfanyana wakwandlela.
"Yithi tu kwedini; kutheni ingathi ungxamele ukugeza nje?  Akwazi ukuba usibonda lo ngusihlalo, ngoko umelwe kukuthetha emi ngeenyawo nje ngoko nathi sonke apha sisukuma sime ngeenyawo xa siza kuthetha? zonke senjenjalo ngaphandle kwakho."
"Heke; kha umxelele Khawulenkosi ngathi uzilibele ukuba uselikrwala, yaye kufanelekile ukuba usihloniphe singoyise.  Kwaye ngaphezulu andazi ukuba uza kufumana ntoni xa kuthe kwacaca ukuba lelikaSithonga okanye lelikaBhaso eli lifa lalemfuyo." Waphendula ngolo hlobo uBhavumla kucacile ukuba isisini sasisamnike umtyhi wesiqabu.
"Ndakuty'efileyo," wasebeza watsho umfana wentsangu; waviwa kuphela ngalo madoda ayekufuphi naye.  Nawo abonakala ngokuphangela kwamagxa awo ukuba yayikho impendulo eyayiphuma ekrwaleni nangona yayingazukuya kufikelela kuBhavumla.
Usibonda wavakalisa udano nokukhathazeka ngenxa yokudelwa nokwenziwa uNgqonjwana ngalo madoda ayesenkundleni kwakhe, wathi uyawabona nalawo ayecinga ukuba angathabatha iwonga lakhe lobubonda, yaye wayeyakuze ngenye imini awabambe apho ayemancinane khona.

"Ingaba madoda nithetha ukuthi imfuyo kaZakhele ma iyekulahlwa ezintabeni?, ukuba anitsho ndixeleleni ukuba ngubani na inkulu kaZakhele ukuze inikezekwe kuyo imfuyo." Cwaka.
Umcimbi wagqithiselwa komkhulu.  Inkosi yathuma uKhawulenkosi ukuba akhawulezise athumele umyalezo

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kuBhaso ancede afike kulo nkundla ngokukhawuleza.  Wagaleleka uBhaso ehamba ngemoto yakhe eyayintle kunene.  Inkosi yayingazimisele kubambezela mnxilo kulo mcimbi, ngenxa yokoyikwa kombethe zindaba yayinolwazi ngalomcimbi wakwaTyelomfula kwanobunzima bawo.  Ayephume ngendlu yawo amadoda ngemini yetyala likaBhaso noSithonga.  Njengoko ummangali yayinguSithonga, lanikwa yena ithuba lokuqala kusithiwa makachazele lo nkundla into awayebambene ngayo noBhaso.
"Enkosi mhlekazi nani bobawo ngokubanzi, kuqala
ndithanda     ukuvakalisa     ubuhlungu      bentliziyo    yam
ngokuchitha ixesha lenu ngoluhlobo.  Xolani bobawo bam

ngokundinyamekela kwenu xa ndisengxakini nasengozini yokwahluthwa ilifa lam.  Andiyazi into ebangela ukuba uBhaso athi ilifa lam lelakhe, uyinkulu kabani?, indim nje inkulu kaZakhele.  Ngesiko lesilungu lamaphepha nezitifikethi mna ndazalwa ngabantu ababini abamanywe ngeqhina lomtshato, ndazalwa ngokomthetho nezicwangciso zabazali bam.  Andizange ndizalwe ngempazamo nemposiso.  Kanti ke nangelesiHIubi isiko mna ndazalwa ngumfazi owayendele kwaTyelomfula nowatyiswa amasi ngokwesiko.  Ngokwesiko lesintu jikelele intombazana ayinalungelo namvume yokuqhama yande ingendanga okanye ke itshate ngesilungu ifumane ilayisenisi yokwenza oko.  Ndigqithe apho, ndiye kwezenkolo oko kuthuthi ecaweni, bondixolela abangawaziyo apho ubheke ngakhona umnyango wecawa." Kwavakala amahum-hum bubhikitsharha buvela kumadod'athile endirhanela ukuba ayechanwe yitekisi.
"Inzwi!" Wadankuluka kwanga kuduma izulu usibonda esenza umsebenzi wakhe, nowona wayeyincutshe kuwo.
"Qhuba Sithonga, qhuba Nozulu liyasa liyasibekela, awu madoda!  Abeza bemacocobela njengemvula yokwindla, abak... " "Hlala phantsi Bhungane ubambezela umnxilo, wawulinikiwe elakho ithuba walidlulisela kule nkundla." Wakhuza uBhavumla.
"Bendisatsho ke bobawo ndisithi nasecaweni awukho umthetho othi makufunyanelwe abantwana emakhaya,

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ndingumntwana wenu ndaye ndiyanibulela

abenjenjalo bayasikwa okanye ke kohlwaye oonina kwangokusikwa.  Oonompilo noonontlalontle, ndiza kuhlala phantsi bobawo bashumayela imihla nezolo bekhuthaza umthinjana ekuziphatheni kakuhle.  Ndiyibeka kuni bobawo into yokuba ingakukulahlekisa nokukhupha umlisela nomthinjana endleleni yokulunga ukuba linokunikwa uBhaso ilifa lakwaTyelomfula, umntu owazalwa ngempazamo."
Inkosi yalinikela emadodeni ithuba isithi ma iphendule indoda emphikisayo uSithonga.  Kwathi kwakungaphakami ndoda kwagqithelwa kuBhaso nowayengummangalelwa kwelotyala.
"Chazela le nkundla Bhaso ngazo zonke izizathu onazo nezinokubangela ukuba ilifa lemfuyo kaZakhele lingaweli kuSithonga, kwelinye icala nika izizathu ezibangela ukuba ucinge ukuba ilifa likaZakhele lelakho." Yatsho inkosi ibhekise kuBhaso.
"Sinye kuphela isizathu esiza kubangela ukuba ilifa lakwaTyelomfula lingaweli kuSithonga, eso sesokuba uSithonga yinci kaZakhele.  Sikwasinye nesizakubangela ukuba liwele kum ilifa eso sesokuba ndim inkulu oko kukuthi indlalifa kaZakhele." Kwaphakama uSithonga ebibitheka ngumsindo, wacela enkosini esithi wayenemibuzwana awayethanda ukuyibuza kuBhaso.  Akuyinikwa imvume wabuza wenjenje:
"Ingaba ndiyaphazama Bhaso xa ndithi wena wazi mhlophe ukuba akunalungelo emfuyweni yakwaTyelomfula? ukuba akunjalo yintoni owakha wayenza kulaa mzi kabawo ebonakalisa ubunkulu bakho?  Okwesibini wathulela ntoni xa ndithabatha iveni katata akuba eswelekile?  Okwesithathu ndizokuyeka Bhaso, uthetha ukuba ufunde kangaka nje, uyindoda nokuba yindoda akuyazi into yokuba ufefe lwenziwa yinkulu okanye yintloko yomzi emva kwesikhungo?  Ndilindele impendulo kuyo yonke le mibuzo Bhaso." Hlaliyani phantsi uSithonga elindele impendulo kumntakwabo.  Wakha wahlala phantsi uBhaso engashukumi nakancinci, wayeyivile imibuzo kaSithonga.  Ethubeni waphakama, wayeyivile imibuzo kaSithonga.  Ethubeni waphakama;

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"Ndinakho ukuyiphendula le mibuzo yakho Sithonga, kodwa andinyanzelekanga.  Umthetho wam andimntu uthandayo ukufeketha ngexesha, nditsho kuba ukundibuza kwakho imibuzo nokuyiphendula kwam, akusayi kuguqulanto kwilifa lakwaTyelomfula nomntu elilunge kuye.  Ukuba ndikhetha ukufeketha ngexesha okunje kwanamhla kuphela ndingathi ewe uyaphazama xa uthi ndazi mhlophe ukuba andinalungelo emfuyweni katata, eneneni andazi ukuba uphazanyiswa yintoni kuba kudala ndisitsho ndisatsho nangoku ndithi andinalungelo nje kuphela emfuyweni kaZakhele, ndiyinkulu yakhe kwedini.  Okwesibini akukho mfuneko yokuba ndenze nto yakubokalisa bunkulu bam, ubunkulu nobundlalifa bam abufuni kubonakaliswa.  Buyabonakala kwabanamehlo okubona, buyavakala baye busaya kuvakala kwabanendlebe zokuva.  Ndandiyakuba andiyisebenzisi ingqondo yam ukuba ndandikuthintele ekusebenziseni iveni katata, khumbula ukuba ngelo xesha ndandingekabi nayo ilayisenisi yokuqhuba imoto.  Nokuba ndasendinayo ndibuthandabuza ukuba ndandiyakuyithabatha iveni katata, uyayibona nawe ukuba ayikho mgangathweni wam.  Notata wayenayo imoto yodidi oluphambili, iveni yayiyinto nje yokulayisha iinkuni nombona weenkuku neehagu.  Uthetha ukuba wena uzimisele ukuba uhamba ngemoto xa uhamba ngesiya sikorokoro sikamfi?  Hayi phofu andikho apho, ufefe ke lonto ndingaba ndiyaphosisa ukuba ndingathi ndakha ndafundiswa okanye ndafunda ngalo, esikolweni nditsho naseyunivesithi kanye, zange ndifunde nto ngafefe, kanti nasekuphumeni kwam ebukhwekwekweni zange ndixelelwe nto ngalo."
"Andisalindele namnye umbuzo ophuma kuwe Sithonga, andinaxesha lakufeketha." Watsho ehlala phantsi uBhaso.  "Ndinyanzelekile ukuba ndiligqithisele eMaluti eli tyala,
ngalo mazwi ndiyanikhulula madoda ngoxolo ningakhululeka.  Bothi ke abanqwenela ukuziva ngokwabo iziphumo bengeva ngakubaliselwa, benjenjeya ukusinga khona ngomhla wetyala sakuba sazisiwe ngawo."

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12.

Inzol'Enkundleni


Yayizele imi ngeembambo inkundla yemantyi e Maluti ngomhla wetyala lelifa lakwa Tyelomfula.  Imantyi enkulu ngezomini yayingumfo wakwaSangoma nonkaba yakhe yayikuNtabankulu.  Into eyayibangela ukuba izale ngolo hlobo inkundla yemantyi ngalo mini, kwathi kanti yayilusuku lokugqibela olwalubekiwe lokuhlawulwa kwerhafu.  Yayipapashiwe into yokuba indoda eyayiyakuthi ifunyanwe ingayihlawulanga irhafu emva kolo suku yayiyakuba sengozini.  Ayelapho ke phantse onke amadoda arhafa kweso sithili awayengekarhafi, ayizalisa ke loo nkundla akwabikho nendawo yokunyathela ngenxa yomdla welotyala.  Into eyayihlekisa kukuba nesizukulwana sikaMshweshwe sasikho kanobom, masithembe ukuba saba nendawana esiziqhawulayo esiXhoseni.  Imantyi yayiselityendyana lomfana, umfo owayesela impepho emyoli kunye neentaka kuba wayesukile egadeni.  Ngebala wayemnyama okomsobo, wayenezinto ezintathu ezazimhlophe, ezo yayizindawo ezimhlophe zamehlo, ihempe yakhe kwakunye namazinyo.  Iinwele zazimnyama zisetyenziwe kakuhle ngamayeza enwele aseMelika, zimankonkofiya.  Ukuba wawunokumbona ungamva ethetha wawuyakufunga uthi ngumdak'omnyama waphesheya

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kolwandle.  Amadoda amaninzi amaHlubi amjonga azibona esehlazweni.  Ingaba ngenene ngenene lo mfanyana owayetsho ngeenwele eziqhotsiweyo wayeza kulisombulula aligwebe ityala lakwaTyelomfula elaloyise wona?  Kazi wayeza kuligweba njani.
"Ilula maan Hlubi le nto, akukho nto ingako iza kwenziwa ngulo mfana, into aza kuyenza kukunika omnye wabantwana bakaTyelomfula ilifa qha ke, athi kutsho umthetho.  Ngubani oya kumphikisa? omphikisayo uyakugqithela phambili kwinkundla engaphezu kwale, eMthatha, nakuyo ayakufika kuthethwa kwale nto iza kuthethwa ngulo mfana, nakhona kobe kusitshiwo kusithiwa kutsho umthetho.  Ixesha eli likhoyo ngoku lelemfundo yaye loo nto ayibuyi mva koko iya phambili." Le yaba yincoko yamadoda amabini asemaHlutyini.
"Unyanisile mfo kabawo, eneneni ndithule nje ndinexhala."
"Elantoni?"
"Omnye waba babantwana bakaZakhele uza kugoduka ehamba kancinci kukuphoxeka nokudana, loo nto ndiyithethiswa kukuba aza kuphela namhlanje amaphupha, kuza kutyhilwa ezincwadini zomthetho.  Impoxo nodano lokuqala luza kubangelwa kukulahlwa lityala.  Olwesibini udano luzakubangelwa kukungabinalo ulwazi, nokungafundi ngokuphangaleleyo ngempilo yemihla ngemihla.  Nditsho kuba kaloku aba bantwana baba nethamsanqa lokufundiswa nguyise.  Lo ucinga ukuba ilifa lelakhe lingelolakhe, uyakuzisola into abeyekele yona ukuphengulula iincwadi zomthetho ezingamafa.
"Thula mfo kabawo masisondele ngathi sel'izakungena inkundla yamatyala."
"Inzol'enkundleni!"
Funqu indlu yonke ukuphakama.  Lwangena madoda ufaf olude lwakuNtabankulu ndiyakuxelela.  Lwakuba lungenile yabuya yahlala phantsi inkundla ngokukhulu kona

ukuzola oku.  Kudla ngokuthiwa amade ngawetyala, kodwa awelakwaTyelomfula aba mafutshane.  Kwabizwa uSithonga nje ngommangali ebizwa ngumtshutshisi, waza wambuza wenjenje akuba esenzile isiqinisekiso sokuba nguye

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ngokwenene:	"Yintoni ebangela ukuba uthi usitsho ngomlomo wakho usithi ungunyana omncinci, ube kwawena usithi uyindlalifa?"
"Kungokuba umkhuluwa wam wazalelwa kulonina, oko kukuthi mhlekazi omhle usisiza nanina."
"Uthetha ukuthini?" wabuza kwakhona umtshutshisi.  "Ndithetha ukuthi uBhaso yena wazalwa ngempazamo ngabazali ababengatshatanga."
"Abangobani?"
"Abakwangabazali bam uZakhele nomam..... ee noPuseletso mhlekazi."
"Wawuphi wena ukuzalwa kukaBhaso?"
"Ndandingekabikho mna kaloku mhlekazi."
"Ezi ndaba zingaka waziva ngabani?"
"Zange ndizive ngamntu mhlekazi ndinobungqina obubhaliweyo."
"Buphi?" Rhuthu isingxobo esasibhalwe IBALULEKILE uSithonga wakhupha okwakuphakathi wanika umtshutshisi.  Umtshutshisi wavula amaphetshana amathathu awayewanikwa nguSithonga wawafunda elungiselela ukuwagqithisela, emantyini.  Inkundla yakha yafumana ithuba lokushukuma ezihlalweni kwanokukhohlela.  Imantyi yakhweba umtshutshisi, baza emva kokuba bedlene indlebe wabuyela kwalapho wayemi khona umtshutshisi ephethe amaphetshana amathathu.
"Inzol'enkundleni!" Cwaka.
"Inkundla ayiyifumani intsingiselo yakho ngala maphepha, elokuqala yincwadi yomtshato kaZakhele Tyelomfula noPutseleso Motaung.  Amanye la mabini ziziqinisekiso zokuzalwa zikaBhaso noSithonga Tyelomfula ngokulandelana kwabo.  Ufuna ukuthini kanye ngala maphepha?"
"Ukuba unokuphawulisisa mhlekazi," waphendula uSithonga, "Isiqinisekiso sikaBhaso sokuzalwa singomhla ongaphambili kowokutshata kwabazali bakhe, oko kukuthi wazalwa ngaphandle komtshato, loo nto ke imkhuphela ngaphandle naselifeni mhlekazi." Yanqwala imantyi ibhekisa kumtshutshisi nowaphendula ngokubiza uBhaso ekhulula

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uSithonga ukuba aye kuhlala phantsi.
UBhaso naye akuba ezixelile onke amagama akhe, nokuba' ngokwenene wayengunyana kaZakhele wabuzwa umbuzo: "Chazela le nkundla ngesizathu sobundlalifa bakho," watsho umtshutshisi.
"Kungokuba ndazalwa tanci ngubawo no ma."
Yaphakama imantyi yaza isimelele ngezandla etafileni ukuzama ukuzilinganisa noninzi lwabantu yathetha ngolu hlobo: "Phambi kokuba ndiwise isigwebo kweli tyala mzi wakowethu ndingathanda ukunikhanyisela nje kancinane ngomthetho nendlela osebenza ngayo kweli lomzantsi Afrika, ethi ke neTranskei ibe yinxalenve yalo.  Nje ngoko nizazi ukuba ninzi kwazo lintlanga ngeentlanga ezikweli laseTranskei, amaBhaca, amaMpondo, abeSuthu namaHlubi, ukubala nje ezimbalwa.  Kunzima kwaye asinakho ukugweba amatyala kule nkundla sisebenzisa imithetho okanye amasiko ethu sizizizwe ezahlukeneyo njengokuba bendichazile.  Asigwebi ngamthetho wasiMpondo, wasiSuthu okanye nawasiHlubi sekhethu na kakade, koko sigweba ngokomthetho waseMzantsi Afrika." Watyatyadula ngolo hlobo umdak'omnyama ongeva sepha, umfo owayekhathazwa kukuphala kwengqondo erhaxwa yimpepho yezulu, iphithizela ngamagama ayintlaninge encwad'ezinkulu zomthetho, ewe bawo.
"Siza kukhe sinqumame ixesha elingangeyure, yona le yokuqala, emva koko ukubuya kwethu ngeyesibini ndiza kuwisa isigwebo."
"Inzolo enkundleni!" Funqukiyani inkundla ukuphuma isiya kuzama okusiwa phantsi kwempumlo.  Uvuyo, oloyiko nolangazelelo lokuva isigwebo, zonke ezi zinto zazivangwe zixutyiwe ezingqondweni zamadoda.  Bambi bavakala bekhalazela ukungamiswa kwesigwebo kubekwe olunye usuku, njengoko iyinto eqhelekileyo ezimantyini ukuqwayita abantu ngokumana ziwarhoxisa amatyala de kuphele iinyanga ngeenyanga.  Enyanisweni akukho mntu wayeyilindele into yokuba ityala lakwaTyelomfula lingathabatha usuku olunye qha? khona sekwatshiwo?  Natyala elinje lona ukubanzima, nelaloyise incutshe

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nenkcubabuchopho zamaHlubi aseSigoga?  Inene ukuhamba kukubona.
Labetha icala emva kweyokuqala, wabetha nomkhono phambi kweyesibini, yancinciza imizuzu eziwotshini zamadoda.  Nci-nci-nci-nci, yancinciza kuhle ukuya kulantsimbi yesibini, intsimbi yokuqhawuka kwembeleko, intsimbi yokukhethwa kweedyongwana emadodeni, intsimbi yokuqungquluza kwenyaniso izivuthulula ebuxokini.  Intsimbi yokunikezelwa ngokomthetho kwelifa lakwaTyelomfula kumninilo.  Instimbi yesibini.
"Inzolo enkundleni!" Yangena imantyi yahlala phantsi inkundla, izibilini zaziphezulu ingakumbi kuMangelengele.  Yaphakamisa incwadi eyayintsundu ngebala imantyi: "Le yincwadi yomthetho waseMzantsi Afrika ebendikhe ndathetha ngayo.  Umthetho womzali nomntwana nebhalwa nguE.  Spiro yaza yashicilelwa ngumzi woshicilelo wakwaJuta.  Kwikhasi lamashumi mabini anesibini, phantsi kwentlokwana:
LEGITIMATED CHILDREN.  Ndiyacaphula ngolwimi ebhalwe ngalo incwadi: 'Children whose parents marry after their birth become legitimated as the result of the subsequent marriage of their parents.' Kwesi sihlokwana kucaciswa ngobume babantwana abazelwe ngabazali abangatshatanga, uthi umthetho kuyo le ncwadi ndiyiphetheyo, abantwana ababazali babo bathi batshate emva kokuba bezelwe bawafumana amalungelo namagunya afana nawabantwana abazalwe ngabazali abatshatileyo ngenxa yokutshata oko kwabazali babo."
"Inzolo enkundleni!" Asukuma amadoda nabo bonke ababekulonkundla bazibona iindlela ezigodukayo.  Akufika    ngakwimoto yakhe uBhaso wafika kumi uNdaphulele encumile, wamanga wambambazela okosana uNdaphulele uBhaso, bangena emotweni bobabini waza wayibetha yancinane uBhaso, yekoko ukusinga esigoga.





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