UPhakathwayo (Imihlola KaPhakathwayo) Kusendaweni yase- Orlando elokishini elikhulukazi eNingizimu Afrika iSoweto. Selokhu kusile uPhakathwayo akaze abenasinqe, umatasa ulungisana nemoto yakhe eluhlaza okwesibhakabhaka yohlobo lweBMW M4. Useze wajuluka wamanzi nte njengoba nelanga likhipha umkhovu etsheni nje, futhi naye eyilungisela khona lana ngaphandle. Akukho nokho okungako abekulungisa ngaphandle kokushintsha amasondo. Uwakhiphe wonke amadala wafaka amasha ceke. Emva kwalokho-ke ubusumphelele umsebenzi, phela lemoto noma ingafa angeke ayenze lutho ngoba idinga
ongcweti
bomakhenikha
ekusetshenzisweni uPhakathwayo,
kwesipanela
ayehlisele
abafundiswe enjinini.
phansi
bagogoda
Awuphothule
imoto
bese
edonsa
kwezikagesi, umsebenzi ujeke
kuya wakhe
okuyiwona
abeyiphakamise ngawo lensimbi yakhe. Aqoqe wonke amathuluzi abewasebenzi, awafake ebhuthini elivuliwe vele; awafake ngesinono esikhwameni sawo segolide esibonakala ukubiza kwaso usasibheka nje. “Wo Phakathwayo!” kubingelela ikhehla esangweni
maqede
livule
esingumahambanendlwana.
lenduku Aphenduke
ebelidondolozela uPhakathwayo.
ngayo “Baba
eyisihlalo Malambule!
Kunene!” UPhakathwayo ephakamisa izandla. “Lahlala emgwaqeni ikhehla lami namuhla, liphuphe ngiliphosa yini?” uPhakathwayo emoyizela. “Lutho Malandela.” uMalambule eshisa inqawe ephafuza kushunqe intuthu kube inqaba. “Ukuthi ngibona sengathi uMalandela angahleli nje, angazi noma sekungukuguga kwami yini okungibonisa lokho?” uMalambule ephafuza intuthu maqede akhwehlele kabuhlungu isikhathi eside. “Impela ubona kona Malambule, ngizoba nohambo ngomhlomunye.” uPhakathwayo ehlala eceleni kukaMalambule. “Hhowu, manje uMalandela uthini ngalokhu eyekuhlelele wona umhlomunye?” uMalambule ekhuluma nenqawe emlonyeni. “Konje uMalambule ushoni?” uPhakathwayo edidekile. “Hhowu.” uMalambule ekhipha inqawe emlonyeni. “Ngikhuluma ngaleli dili likaMkhipheni owathi uzolenza ngazo lezi zinsuku ngakho-ke asibophuma ngothi lwethu sizokubungaza.” UPhakathwayo azibambe umlomo ekhumbula. “Hhewu. Yobe Malambule, sekube noguquko olube khona. Sengibonga kona ukufika kwakho Malambule, ngiyethemba
usuzongihlabela umkhosi nakwabanye ubabikele ngalolu guquko.” uPhakathwayo eshalaza.
“Hhowu
Malandela,
kungathi
bese
sihlambulule
nezisu
senzela
ukungakhathazeki ngosuku lomsitho?” uMalambule ebhekisisa uPhakathwayo. “Uxole impela Bhambolunye.” uPhakathwayo ngeliphansi. “Kodwa-ke vele bese ngizophuthelwa ngoba ngidingeka ekhaya ukuyobamba lapho ngingabamba khona, ngoba nabo bazoba nomcimbi kulo leli sonto. Kumanje bengithi ngizokhonza kuwe Malandela, ukuthi usale usungishiyela noma inyama yomlenze lena eyayidliwa ngabafokazana, ngoba ngiyazi ukuthi unekhanda elihle ngokuba nemicimbi esukumisa ngisho nesinedolo bese kuphela ukudla.” uMalambule eqinisa amehlo. Amoyizele uPhakathwayo. “Kodwa-ke uhamba ngesihle Malandela?” “Yebo Malambule ngihamba ngesihle.” uPhakathwayo ehleka. “Hhowu, kumnandi-ke uma kunjalo. Hhayi-ke ndlelanhle Malandela, usikhonzele.” uMalambule esukuma evala isihlalo sakhe. “Sengizocela uMagaye kube nguyena okuhlabela umkhosi ngoba nami ngizokhumuka khona namuhla, malithambama nje.” Kuqhuba uMalambule. “Ngingabonga kakhulu Malambule.” uPhakathwayo asukume naye, aphuthaze esikhwameni
akhiphe
amaphepha
amathathu
ampunga,
awafumbathise
uMalambule. “Usuyophuza itiye ngendlela Malambule.” uPhakathwayo emoyizela. “Hhowu. Ngisho nje ngilokhu ngilunywa isandla. Selokhu liqalile isonto siyangiluma.” uMalambule athule kancane ebheke lamaphuphu ezikhova awaphiwe. “Isandla sedlula ikhanda Malandela.” uMalambule emoyizela. “Cha ayihlukane Malandela, khona ngizoke ngigijime ngiyobheka leli khehla lami elinguMagaye.” “Malambule.” uPhakathwayo
emoyizela
ebuka
lolu
dondolo
lukaMalambule,
bahlukane.
UPhakathwayo abuyele ngaphakathi egcekeni. Avalisise isikhwama sezipanela zakhe lesi asishiyiswe ukutheleka kukaMalambule. Athathe isihlalo sakhe esivalekayo esihlala khona lana emotweni asikhiphe bese evala ibhuthi. Eze naso, afike asivule asibeke lana kuvelanda wesithabathaba somuzi wakhe, abantu asebewethe igama elithi ‘KukwaMlungu’; ahlale esihlalweni sakhe bese ephumula kakhulu. Asukume athi lacu, aqonde kumpompi owakhelwe kahle obondeni, ahlambulule izandla zakhe isikhathi eside. Aqede ukuzihlambulula avale umpompi ngendololwane. Adonse iphepha elisathawula elisetshenziselwa ukusula izandla. Asule isandla sokhohlo ngobunono bese elilahla ngokwenyanya leli phepha abesula ngalo, athathe elinye asulisise. Adonse amanye enze esifanayo nasesandleni sokudla. Abuyele esihlalweni sakhe afike ahlale phansi. Amoyizele
kancane ezwa umsindo wezinganyana zakhe endlini zidlala. “UNkulunkulu mkhulu, emkhulu
nje
kuqhamuke
unguNkulunkulu.” okungumfanyana
UPhakathwayo oneminyaka
ekhuluma
yedwa.
eyisishiyagalolunye,
Kusenjalo kusondele
ngakuPhakathwayo; kubomvu njengoyise akubuzwa nje ukuthi kungokukabani. “Baba, ehhena umama uthi angikubuze ukuthi kena kena, uzodlela lana ngaphandle noma endlini yini?” kubuza okungumfanyana. “Mtshele umama ukuthi ngizodlela endlini ngiyeza khona manje.” Abuyele endlini umfanyana. Bekungakangeni nje ngesikhathi
uyise
ekubiza.
“Sakhile.”
Kubuye
kusondele
kuyise.
“Sondela
mfanwami.” Kusondele futhi. “Usenzele kudla kuni umama?” uPhakathwayo ekhulumela phansi. “Uthe umama kena kena ngingakutsheli.” uSakhile ehleka kancane kuvele inkahlankahla yesisini. “Ngizokupha imali bese ngikusa esinema mfanwami, ngitshele.” uPhakathwayo ephuthaza ephaketheni lebhulukwe. USakhile asondele. “Angithi kena kena…” “Yewena Sakhile, ngizokunyathela!” Kukhuluma ingoduso kaPhakathwayo imi emnyango itete ingane emhlane. “Ngqi sabanjwa. Sabanjwa Sakhile.” uPhakathwayo emoyizela. “Asixolise ndoda.” uPhakathwayo ebhekise kuSakhile. “Siyaxolisa mama.” uSakhile ebheke phansi. “Ngiyakuxolela mfanwami, asingene endlini-ke. Woza.” Kusho uMaKhumalo. USakhile angene endlini. Ame ngasemnyango. “Angeke ngisakusa esinema njalo.” uPhakathwayo ebhekise kuSakhile. Aphenduke uSakhile. Unina amdonse. “Ngena!” uMaKhumalo eyilandela ngemumva indodana yakhe. UPhakathwayo asukume azilule bese engena endlini ebheke phansi njengesambane. Amangale nje, uma elokhu ejombana namabhelunde kodwa acabange ukuthi bekudlala izingane.
Aphonse
amehlo etafuleni alithole lihlotshisiwe kukhona nembaklama yekhekhe elikhanyiswe amakhandlela, ahambe evikana namabhelunde alengisiwe. Happy birthday to you, Happy birthday to you, Happyy birthday to youuu, Yip yip hhure. Yip yip hhure. “Hhowu, ekabani-ke le?” uPhakathwayo edidekile. “Lena uthe umama kena kena eyakho baba.” Kuphendule uSakhile oseqalile ukuzibusisa ngoswidi abagcwele itafula. “Habe. Inkulu indaba. Eyami ngempela noma kudlalwa ngami nje?”
uPhakathwayo ebambelele odongeni emmangele. “Eyakho impela Phakathwayo.” uMaKhumalo emoyizela. “Hheyi, yazi ngithi mina ekaSandile mhlambe ngoba phela ekaSakhile ibikuwo lamavikana edlule. Awungitshele nje ukuthi uma ngikhohlwa eyami, eyomunye ingakhumbuleka kanjani?” uPhakathwayo emoyizela ebheka uMaKhumalo. UMaKhumalo anyiphe kancane bese emoyizela. UPhakathwayo asondele etafuleni, aphephethe wonke lamakhandlela akuleli khekhe, athi esethi uwacishile avuthe futhi. “Nayoke imihlola kaPhakathwayo.” uPhakathwayo eqhubeka ephephetha lamakhandlela anenkani, baze basondele bonke baphephethe kanye kanye aze acime. Bahleke bawasuse lamakhandlela emihlola, uPhakathwayo athathe ummese asike ucezu olungangekhanda likaSakhile. “Ngiyabonga kakhulu bantabami
ngalomgubho
eningenzele
wona
namuhla.
Ukuzala
ukuzelula.”
uPhakathwayo evula isigubhu seCoca-cola, ethela kwenye yezingilazini kulezi ezisetafuleni. “Baba, kufanele ukuthi kena kena ubonge nakumama.” uSakhile esondela kuPhakathwayo. “Ngibongile nje mfanwami.” uPhakathwayo emoyizela ebuka uMaKhumalo. “Phela naye ungumtanami.” uPhakathwayo ngokunganaki. “Hha! Kanti mama?” uSakhile emangele edidekile. “Ehhe mfanwami, uqinisile ubaba.” uMaKhumalo emoyizela. “Sicela usisikela nathi Qwabe.” uMaKhumalo ngesizotha. “Hlalani phansi nikhululeke bantabami ubaba uzonenzela into yamehlo.” uPhakathwayo ebasikela izigidagida zezingcezu maqede abafakele emasosini. “Sixabene yini kanti, sadutshwa kangaka?” uMaKhumalo ethuswa ilezi zigidagida zezingcezu. “Abathule abantu, kuphethe mina lana.” uPhakathwayo ehleka. “Angathini nje umuntu ongatheleka sisazogimbela izinguzunga zezigidagida ezingaka kodwa?” uMaKhumalo exwaya. UPhakathwayo anyuse amahlombe emoyizela. Avule isigubhu seCoca-cola abathelele ezingilazini. “Ungakhohlwa Phakathwayo, umuntu nento yakhe njalo. I-Coke ayizwani nami.” uMaKhumalo eqinisa amehlo. “Hhewu, sengikhohlwe nya yazi? Hhayi, ukuguga akumemezi. Awugxume Sakhile mfanwami ungilandele enye ingilazi. Uyibambe kahle-ke uyezwa.” uPhakathwayo eqinisa amehlo. “Yebo baba.” uSakhile ethathelela ngejubane khona lana endlini eqonde ekhishini. “Hhawu, angeke abuye nayo.” Ubengaligwinyi nje uPhakathwayo, ngesikhathi ebuya nayo ingilazi uSakhile. “Bengingathembi. Nazo-ke mfanwami, usukhulile-ke manje. Sekumele ngikuse emapulazini-ke uyokwelusa.” “Hha!” uSakhile edumala. UPhakathwayo avule isiphuzo sohlobo lweFanta Pineapple bese
ethelela uMaKhumalo. “Nakho-ke Mtungwa.” uPhakathwayo enika uMaKhumalo. “Nakhu okwenu bafana bami.” UPhakathwayo enika amadodana akhe. ****
****
****
****
****
****
****
****
****
****
****
****
****
Sekuntambama namathunzi aseyewukela njengoba nelanga nje seliyozilahla konina. UPhakathwayo ulokhu esijeqeze njalo isikhathi bese ekhala ngokuhamba kwaso kancane. Sinjalo-ke vele, uma uphuthuma sivele sizitotobele nje kuthi lapho ufuna sihambe
kancane,
siphuthume
sengathi
khona
okusidudula
ngemumva.
UPhakathwayo usefisa engabe sekusile manje, aye kwelakubo ezintabeni zaseMnambithi
esizweni
sabaNtungwakholwa
esigodini
saseMahhukwini
nokuyilapha inkaba yakhe ikhona. Phela besekuphele iminyaka eyishumi nanye agcina kwelakubo uPhakathwayo. Ulokhu abashiya eyokwenza unyaka wakhe wokugcina eNyuvesi yaseGoli (University of Johannesburg- Soweto Campus) lapho ayenza khona iziqu zakhe zokuThuthukiswa koMphakathi nobuholi (Community Development and Leadership), akuphelanga sikhathi esingakanani eziphothulile iziqu zakhe uPhakathwayo, wabizwa ngumphathi wosoNhlalakahle esizindeni sasePitoli wamnika umsebenzi wokuhlunga abaswele kwabangeswele; ukuze kusizakale
abahlwempu
ngokweqiniso,
ngoba
izigilamkhuba
sezithanda
ukuwuhlasela lomnyango wezeNhlalakahle zivimbela abaswele ekusizakaleni. Into eyamenza wagcina engasabuyeli kwelakubo kwabayingxoxo eyayiphakathi kwakhe nomndeni wakhe, lapho abambuza khona ngento yokuqala ayesehlele ukuyenza uma esesebenza. Wabatshela ngokulobola intokazi ahlangana nayo khona eNyuvesi bese imgcagcela. Kwaba useyinyathele emsileni ngoba umndeni wonke wamhlaba wamhlikiza kulolu hlelo lwakhe baze balimisa ngesihloko elokuthi uthakathiwe. Kuleli phupho lakhe elabe liyisithembiso esasidinga ukufezeka akekho noyedwa emndenini owayemeseka okanye embonisa kahle ngokwakhayo ekuphikisaneni naye babevuke indlobane bonke nje kodwa bengenazizathu ezizwakalayo. Emva konyaka eqalile ukusebenza wazitholela abakhongi khona lana eGoli waluchaza lonke usizi lwakhe neminjunju enhliziyweni yakhe eyadalwa ngabantu ayebathwele ngeqoma. Laba bakhongi bazwelana kakhulu nalendodana eyahlanzwa ngumndeni futhi ingasenabani engakhala kuye ayizwe; bavuma ukumsiza uPhakathwayo. Bagcine sebephenduke abazali bakaPhakathwayo labo baba ababili okunguMalambule
noMagaye.
Kulapho-ke
abathumela
khona
emzini
wasemaNtungweni kwaKhumalo ukuba bayomkhonzela khona bamcelele isihlobo esihle. Kwahamba kahle konke zase ziyima emthumeni ngendaba yomgcagco wesintu, ngoba wona unemicikilishi ejule ukudlula amalobolo; phela umshado ubandakanya inyongo ethelwa kumalokazana emukelwa ngabaphilayo nalabo abasuke bengasabonwa ngamehlo enyama. Ngaphandle kwenyongo umshado ufana nento engekho, okunye okubalulekile ngenyongo ukuthi ayithelwa inoma ngubani kumalokazana. Ilokho-ke okwababamba ukuba bangashadi labantwana ababili kodwa uthando lwabo angeke lafaniswa nalutho kokukhona. Ikona-ke lokhu okwenza abakwaKhumalo banqume ukumdedela aye emzini wakhe uMaKhumalo. Kamumva bese becabanga nokuya kuMantshi bashadiswe iyona ngoba bebona ukuthi umndeni kaPhakathwayo awukazimiseli ukuxola. Izolo ngezithuba zehora lesithathu ntambama kungazelele muntu, kuvele kwangena ucingo luvela ezintabeni zaseMahhukwini kuKhuzwayo; uyise kaPhakathwayo, exolisa ngesenzo sabo abasenza kuyena eminyakeni eyishumi nanye eyadlula. Bekuthi akashaye amaphiko kuhle kokhozi ngaso leso sikhathi esuka eGoli elibhekise eMnambithi ngenxa yenjabulo, kodwa wabuye wazikhuza. Wazenza umuntu osazoyicabangisisa kahle lendaba ngoba yamphula inhliziyo. Impendulo yokubathethelela ezenzweni zabo uze wayikhipha ngehora leshumi ebusuku. Babe sebemcela ukuba abuye ekhaya ukuze bezoba
nomhlangano
wokubhunga
ngosuku
lwakhe
lomshado.
Okukhulu
nokumhlabe umxhwele uPhakathwayo, ukuba umndeni umcele ukuba afike nomndeni wakhe okunguMaKhumalo nezingane zabo. Balibeke ngokuthi imbuzi enamazinyane iba yinhle ngokuhamba namazinyane ayo. ****
****
****
****
****
****
****
****
****
****
****
****
****
‘I’ m coming home, I’m coming home, Tell the world I’m coming home, Let the rain wash away all pain of yesterday, I know kingdom awaits and they’ve forgiven my mistakes, I’m coming home, I’m coming home, Tell the world that I’m coming home.’ Lawo magama ayekhala emotweni kaPhakathwayo, owayelokhu eliphinde njalo leli noni alikhonzile elishaywa nguDiddy Dirty Money owayaziwa ngelikaPuffy Diddy. UPhakathwayo wayeze acule kanye nalo leli noni elikhalayo, abuye anyuse nomsindo kakhulu eselibele ukuthi abantwana bakhe basalele. Nokho-ke leli noni bese limqhubile ngoba useze wangena eNtabazwe ephindaphindana nalo okusho khona ukuthi emva kwamahora amabili insimbi yakhe izobe iqubula phakathi ebaQulusini; eMnambithi. Kusenjalo kukhale ucingo lakhe, ehlise ijubane nomsindo
ngasikhathi sinye, aluphendule. “Qwabe.” uPhakathwayo athule, elalela. “Hhawu, senginesikhathi uPhakathwayo
ngisukile athule
futhi.
Qwabe. “Impela
Kumanje
ngidlula
lana
eNtabazwe.”
sizamile
ukuvuka
Qwabe,
besenzela
ukungabanjezelwa isinyokotho emgwaqeni njengoba kuphithizela nje kulezi zinsuku.” Athule futhi uPhakathwayo. “Ehh, njengoba kusengelesishiyagalombili manje, ake ngithi eleshumi lizosishayela sesingalapho.” uPhakathwayo ejeqeza iwashi lakhe legolide elisesihlakaleni alithengelwa nguMaKhumalo esandleni abambe ngaso isitelingi, athule alalele. “Qwabe.” uPhakathwayo evalelisa kuyise. Amise imoto eceleni komgwaqo, avule isikhwama sama-CD, apheqapheqe bese ekhipha icwecwe leqhawe elingasekho emhlabeni; umfokaMabhulukw’ awamlingan’ ayoze agqokwe unina uMaMhlongo, uBhekumuzi Luthuli. Isihloko saleli cwecwe sithi ‘1818’. Akhiphe leli abelibafake emsakazweni bese efaka leli likamfokaMolo adlale inoni elisihloko sithi ‘Uyekhaya’; okuyingoma eyizinsimbi ezipholile kuphela, zinkeneneze lezi zinsimbi zikhalela phansi. UPhakathwayo aliphindaphinde leli noni enqamula izwe. “Hha! Zolala izinsizwa madoda. Ngoze ngiyongena phakathi kwelakithi ngalena.” UPhakathwayo ekhuluma yedwa, kwazise oMaKhumalo basazilalele. ****
****
****
****
****
****
****
****
****
****
****
****
****
Mihlanu imizuzu libumbene ihora leshumi ekuseni. Lana kuseMahhukwini, isibongo kukwaKhuzwayo. Kuyaphithizela ngaphandle kwazise umndeni ubuthene wonke kufike nabavela koThekwini nakoMpumalanga njalonjalo, ukuzongqumuza baphinde babonisanne noPhakathwayo ngendaba yosuku lomgcagco okubonakalayo ukuthi seludumela emasumpeni ziwushaye, baphinde badlulise nalokhu abakwenza kuPhakathwayo eminyakeni edlule. Ilanga liphumile nokho, yize ekhona amafu lapha nalapha, akhombisa ukuthi lingahle line okanye lidume ngokuqhubeka kosuku. Kwakhiwe kulomuzi, nxa uvakashele khona awukhathazwa indawo yokulala, kodwa uvele udidwe ukuthi uzolala kuphi njengoba umuzi umngaka nje. Uyise kaPhakathwayo waze wathi kukwaZikhethele ngoba uma uvakashile uzikhethela wena ukuthi ufuna ukuwagoba kuphi amadlangala. Okuqaphelekayo ngathi kuzoba nomcimbi,
ngoba
nemfuyo
ayikadedelwa
esibayeni.
Emva
kwemizuzwana
engemingakhi kuqhamuke unyanyavu lukaPhakathwayo, lufike lume buqamama nesango isikhashana. UPhakathwayo acishe ingoma yeBongo Maffin esihloko sithi ‘Ayikho into egqith’ ikhaya lakho.’ Ebilokhu isholo phansi. Avale amehlo agobodisele
ikhanda phansi sakuthandaza. Athandaze ngenhliziyo isikhathi eside. Avule amehlo bese ephakamisa ikhanda. “Ngiyabonga bobabamkhulu, nina boMavula kuvaliwe, nani bomkhulu nokhokhokazi. Ngithi Khondlo, Mnguni, Qwabe, Malandela.” uPhakathwayo aphonse amehlo egcekeni aqaphele ukuthi umndeni usuphume ngothi lawo umi ngaphandle, sekuphume ngisho nesinedolo, ashaywe uvadlwana. Aphenduke abheke esihlalweni esungemumva. “Mzilikazi! Mtungwa!” uPhakathwayo enyakazisa
uMaKhumalo.
UMaKhumalo
avuke
ngokwethuka.
“Sesifikile
Dubandlela.” uPhakathwayo ephumula ngamandla. “Hawu, cha ukhona kodwa. Ubungangivusi ngani kusenesikhathi khona ngizothi ukuzilungiselela.” uMaKhumalo ezilungisa, ebophisisa neduku elisekhanda lakhe, acikice amehlo. Amoyizele kancane uPhakathwayo, adumise imoto afake igiya eliyaphambili. Kuqhamuke umnumzane osekhulile, embethe ibheshu elimpunga nembatha lengwe, afike ame phambi kwemoto. “Ngubaba wami-ke lona bantabami.” UPhakathwayo ekhomba lomnumzane webheshu ngekhanda. “Sandile! Sakhile! Vukani bo! Nangu umkhulu.” uMaKhumalo evusa abantwana. UKhuzwayo aphenduke ayibize imoto eqhephuka nebheshu lakhe ehamba phambi kwemoto. Kuqhume umkikizo ebaleni kuchwaze kuye kuyohlokoma izintaba namawa kuze kube sengathi kwamukelwa inkosi. UPhakathwayo alilandele leli khehla ngemoto baze bayosithela ngemuva kwezindlu, nokuyilapho izimoto zakhelwe khona indawo yazo; kukhona izinhlobo ngezihlobo zezimoto kule ndawo. UPhakathwayo afike apake eyakhe naye endaweni eyalungiselwa
yena.
Avule
umnyango
uPhakathwayo,
bakikize
ngamandla
abomndeni bemamukela futhi bembingelela. Abe namahloni bese ebaphakamisela isandla ebabingelela. UKhuzwayo asondele kuPhakathwayo axhawule. “Malandela!” uKhuzwayo
emoyizela.
UPhakathwayo
aphumule
ngamandla.
“Qwabe!”
UPhakathwayo emoyizela naye. “Koti, ninjani?” uKhuzwayo elunguza emotweni. “Siyaphila baba, singezwa nina.” uMaKhumalo echobozela emoyizela. “Qwabe, nguMaKhumalo lona, amadodana ami lana aseceleni kwakhe uSandile noSakhile, lona amphethe-ke nguXolile; ngamafuphi nje abazukulu bakho.” uPhakathwayo ebuka uKhuzwayo. “Umuntu ucishe wabona esebona abazukulu babazukulu iNkos’ impela.” uKhuzwayo emoyizela ebheke abazukulu bakhe. “Ngiyajabula ukunazi bantabami. Siyanamukela ekhaya elikhulu. Ngiyacabanga ukuthi nikhathele kakhulu, phela lude lolu hambo eniluhambile.” uKhuzwayo aphakamise amehlo abheke kwabomndeni abebekikiza, aqhwebe.
Kusondele
inkosazana
elingana
noPhakathwayo
ngokweminyaka,
ezalwa
ngunkosikazi kaKhuzwayo omncane. “Thandeka, ngicela uthathe abantabomtanami ubase endlini yabo, bayophumula.” “Mnguni.” uThandeka evuma ngenhlonipho ebheke phansi. “Malandela, thina kukhona okusamele siyoqala ngakho laphaya kwakhokho. Ake siye ngakhona.” “Hhawu, okuyini lokho Qwabe?” uPhakathwayo ngeliphansi edidekile. UKhuzwayo angaphenduli, bafike bangene kwakhokho. UKhuzwayo aguqe ngasemsamo, uPhakathwayo ahlale endaweni yakhe abehlale ehlala
kuyo
phambilini
uma
kukhulunywa
emsamo.
UKhuzwayo
ajeqeze
uPhakathwayo. “Sondela Malandela.” UPhakathwayo asondele edidekile. Kusenjalo kungene abafana ababili bedidimbisana nembuzi emhlophe enonile yeduna. Axakeke kakhulu-ke manje uPhakathwayo ukuthi sekwenzekalani. “Sesiyibusisile Qwabe.” uBafana ebhekise kuKhuzwayo. “Ngibonge madodana ami. Ake nithi gozololo khona lapho esikhumbeni senu.” Basondeze imbuzi kuKhuzwayo bese behlala
phansi
bezotha.
UKhuzwayo
ashise
impepho.
“Sikhuluma
nani
bobabamkhulu, sicela nisizwe, nizwe ukukhala kwethu. Ngalempahla sizicelela intethelelo endodaneni yethu, nakini bokhokho ngalokhu esakwenza kuyo.” UKhuzwayo asukume. “Akubenjalo-ke madodana ami.” uBafana noMelusi basukume badidimbisane nayo lempongo baphume nayo beyisa kuleli bandla eselimi ngumumo ukuyingenela ngothayela. UKhuzwayo noPhakathwayo baphumele ngaphandle. “Kodwa Qwabe, mhlawumbe bekungame…” “Impela bekumele Malandela. Ngisho nencwadi engcwele iyasho ukuthi akunantethelelo igazi lingachithekanga kanti futhi namakha amanoni eminikelo yokushiswa ayamthokozisa uSimakade.” uKhuzwayo ephula uPhakathwayo ulimi. UPhakathwayo athule isikhashana edla amathambo engqondo. “Kwenzakaleni layikhaya, ngabuya abantu sebeshintshile nje, uQwabe usengumfundisi yini?” uPhakathwayo edidekile. “Kodwa-ke uqinisile Qwabe ngalokhu okushoyo. Ngisacela ukukushiya okwesikhashana nje.” uPhakathwayo aye ngakuleli bandla elidikadikana nembuzi. “Uxolo maqhawe akithi, ngisacela nike ningiboleke uMelusi kancane?” kucela uPhakathwayo. “Hhewu, wasisisiza mnewethu wasilamulela. Sesiphose safa amahlaya alomuntu.” Kusho enye insizwa. UPhakathwayo noMelusi bahambe bayongena emotweni basuke baphume ngesango kungaziwa ukuthi balibangisephi. Emva kwesikhashana babuye sebelandelwa iveni ebomvu yakwaMthembu, ithwele izintondolo ezimbili ezimhlophe. UMelusi adilike emotweni adidimbisane nalezi
zintondolo asithele nazo. UPhakathwayo adlane indlebe noyise, uKhuzwayo abonakale esenqekuzise ikhanda bese bengena kwakhokho futhi bayoguqa emsamo bobabili. Balinde isikhashana, kungene uMelusi edonsa imbuzi, ezithendeni kukhona uBafana odonsa enye naye. “Ehh. Melusi, ngicela ungiphinde futhi ndodana.” “Nodiya.” uMelusi evuma ephuma ngomnyango. UKhuzwayo ashise impepho futhi amakha ayo azwakale nangaphandle. “Bokhokho esibaziyo nesingabazi.
Nangu
umzukulu
wenu
uPhakathwayo
eceleni
kwami,
uthi
ngalempahla uyasithethelela ngesakwenza kuye, nani sicela nixole maQwabe.” “Khuzwayo!
Phakathwayo!
Qwabe!
Malandela!”
UKhuzwayo
ekhuluma
oPhakathwayo noBafana belandela ngemumva. UBafana aphume nalembuzi esikhulunyisiwe. UKhuzwayo asondeze lena ebibanjwe nguBafana, ayinukise impepho eshunqayo. Acelele uPhakathwayo intethelelo emndenini ophilayo nakwabaphansi ngokuduba kwakhe. UMelusi angene nenye imbuzi emhlophe futhi. “Awuzwa-ke Mnguni, phuma nalenake. Ubikele ibandla ukuthi alithi ukuphuthuma kancane, lisibolekele nezinsizwa ezithe xaxa komakhelwane. Nibabikele ngokushintsha kwezinhlelo mayelana nalokhu ebesibabikele kona phambilini.” uKhuzwayo ebambe lembuzi engene noMelusi. “Nodiya.” uMelusi evuma ephuma ngomnyango. “Nami ake ngiyophosa itshe esiivivaneni ngoba kubukeka sengathi umsebenzi usumningana manje.” Kungenelela uPhakathwayo. “Iphuzu lelo Malandela, kodwa asenze lokhu kuqala.” uKhuzwayo ashise lempepho ebisicimile futhi, asondeze imbuzi. Amukele ngayo ukuxolisa kukaPhakathwayo emndenini, acele nabaphansi ukuba bamthethelele bese bemsingatha ngazikhathi zonke. UKhuzwayo abeke impepho phansi, asukume. “Ingabe isiphandla siyadingeka Qwabe kulokhu?” uPhakathwayo ebuza. “Ehh. Esimweni esifana nalesi okanye emcimbini ofana nalona, isiphandla asiyona impoqo okubalulekile nje ukuba siyidle ndawonye lenyama singumndeni. Kodwa-ke nxa usifuna uzothola esalembuzi esamukele ngayo uxolo lakho.” uKhuzwayo ekhomba lembuzi ayibambile. “Ngingathokoza kakhulu Qwabe.” uPhakathwayo emoyizela. “Asiphuthume-ke Malandela, sizokhathula kuse kahle phela naleli zulu lakwelakini uyalazi alithembakele neze. Lingavele lihlanganise lamafu amabili nje, bese lithi hhahla singakaqedi.” “Uqinisile Qwabe.” uPhakathwayo esukuma elandela uyise odonsa imbuzi. ****
****
****
****
****
****
****
****
****
****
****
****
****
Sekuntambama kanti nezulu selivele ladedela imvula enamandla ngaphandle, lana kusendlini yemihlangano lana kwaKhuzwayo kukhanyiswe ugesi, lendlu ingulawondi omkhulu kunabo bonke olawondi abakhona lana endaweni jikelele wakhiwe ngezitini zikakhonkolo. Ngaphakathi kuhlezi ugogo omncane kaPhakathwayo, namakhosikazi kaKhuzwayo ahleli ezinkukhweni zawo entshonalanga yendlu. Ngaphesheya kuhleli inhloko yomuzi uKhuzwayo esihlalweni sengwe okuyisona qwaba isihlalo esikhona kulendlu. Eceleni kwakhe kuhleli uPhakathwayo okhukhweni lakhe oluhlotshiswe ngemibabala othokozile ikakhulu njengoba kuzokhulunywa ngendaba enkulu yokushadelwa kwakhe. “Bantabami, sihlangene lana, ehh, ngodaba oluthile oseluvele lwasixaka kanti besisajabule futhi singalulindele.” uKhuzwayo athule kancane abheke wonke umuntu endlini. UPhakathwayo adideke manje. “Ehh, mhlawumbe umuntu ongayibeka kangcono lendaba ngumama uMaShabalala. Mshengu!” “Ngibonge Nodiya.” UMaShabalala ekhulumela phansi. “Bantabami, sihlale sihlangana singumndeni kodwa kuyaqala ngqa ukuthi sihlangane ngodaba olunjena. Kodwa-ke mhlawumbe lento idalwe ithina siwumndeni.” “Mnguni.” Kuvuma uKhuzwayo. Kugijime amahhashi esifubeni sikaKhuzwayo edidekile. “Sibabonile abantwana bakho Phakathwayo, bahle kakhulu. Bafuze layikhaya koKhuzwayo kanti nontombazana naye ufuzile.” “Ukhulu usho untombazane muphi?” UPhakathwayo edidekile. UMaShabalala aphumule. “Ngisho umama wabantwana, ufuzile naye…” “Ufuzile? Ufuzephi khulu?” uPhakathwayo engena uMaShabalala emlonyeni. UMaShabalala
athule
isikhathi
eside
ebheke
phansi.
“Khulu,
ufuzephi
uMaKhumalo?” uPhakathwayo efudumala. Untombazana ufuze kubo, ufuze uyisekazi wakhe.” uMaShabalala ebheke phansi. “UMaKhumalo
akanaye
uyisekazi,
ubaba
wakhe
uyedwa
qwaba
kwabo.”
uPhakathwayo ehleka usulu. “Kodwa-ke angikho lapho. Untombazana lona, akayena owalapho ocabanga ukuthi ungowakhona, naye lapho azi ukuthi ungowakhona. Kodwa-ke ungowalapho ongacabangi wena ukuthi ungowakhona.” “Ehh, into ayikhanyisayo
uMnguni
ukuthi
uMaKhumalo,
akuyena
owakwaKhumalo.”
Kungenelela uKhuzwayo. “Kahleni bo, ake nithi niyadlala. Uma engeyena owakoKhumalo, koMtungwa pho ungowakwabani-ke?” uPhakathwayo edidekile. “Nansi indaba esihlangene ngayo-ke Phakathwayo. Usamkhumbula lomtwana wakwenu wentombazana esasihlale sikutshela ngaye sithi ukhona?” “Cha angisamkhumbuli khulu. Yini ushonile yini?” uPhakathwayo enikina ikhanda
edidekile. “Igama lakhe wayenguZanele.” uMaShabalala akhulume maqede athuke uPhakathwayo ngoba lelo igama lesithathu likaMaKhumalo. “Wayezalwa ngubaba wakho
omkhulu,
abakomalume
wakhe
bala
baphetha
ukuthi
simhlawule,
okungaphezu kwakho konke basinqabela nokuthi simbone, okanye simvakashele nje.” “Kanti akashonanga yini lowo muntu?.” uPhakathwayo egcwele izinyembezi emehlweni.
“Cha,
uMaKhumalo
lowo.”
uMaShabalala
ekhulumela
phansi.
UPhakathwayo abone umhlaba uncipha ubamncanyana ahluleke ukuzibamba adazuluke aphume ngejubane endlini.
Iyaphela!!!