Ingozi, 8 Febhuwari, 1991
Ngonyaka ka1991, uLeonard wayengumphathi wesitolo sefenisha edolobhaneni elincane iMount Frere e-Eastern Cape. Zonke izinsuku wayeshayela esuka eKokstad eya eMount Frere. Njalo ebusuku nangempelasonto wayedlala ibhola lezinyawo eKokstad.
Ngosuku olwashintsha impilo yakhe, zingu 8 Febhuwari, 1991, wavuka ekuseni, walungiselela ukuya emsebenzini njengenjwayelo. Wayesesemgwaqeni ngehora lesikhombisa. Wayeshaya ikhwela kancane ngesikhathi esendleleni. “Ngehora lesishiyagalombili, ngiyobe sengiseMount Frere,” ekhuluma yedwa. Umgwaqo wawubhizi kakhulu. Wonke umuntu ejahile, futhi zaziningi izimoto ezazimedlula.
Kwathi lapho ejika ikhona imoto yakhe yavele yaphaphalaza. “Nkulunkulu wami!” ememeza. “Kwenzekani manje! Sizani, ngicela ningisize, ngiyafa!”
Imoto yaphenduka naye yamjikijela ngaphandle. Lokho kwaba yinto yokugcina ayikhumbula ngaphandle kokuba ezwe owayemnyakazisa ethi, “Vuka! Uqhamukaphi? Ungubani igama lakho?”
ULeonard – imenenja yesitolo sakwaDan Hands Furnishers eMount Frere (1990).
Wavula amehlo. Umshayeli weloli owayemjamele. “Kwenzekeni?” wabuza uLeonard ngexhala. “Susa lemoto phezu kwami.”
Umshayeli weloli waphendula wathi, “Akukho moto phezu kwakho, ndodana. Sizokusiza. Ungubani igama lakho?”
“Uma kungekho moto phezu kwami, ubani ohlezi ezinyaweni zami. Liqhamukaphi lonke leligazi?” uLeonard wabuza esekhathazeke kakhulu.
“Ima kancane. Zama ukukhululeka ndodana,” kusho umshayeli weloli. “Sizokubizela i-ambulensi. Ngeke ithathe isikhathi eside, uzoba ngcono.”
Iqulu labantu lase lihlangene lapho kwenzeke khona ingozi. Umgwaqo wase uvaliwe. Wonke umuntu efuna ukwazi ukuthi kwenzenjani. Amaphoyisa afika atshela abantu ukuba baqhele lapho kwenzeke khona ingozi. “Kube yini imbangela yalengozi?” kubuza iphoyisa. “Ubani obekhona?”
“Ngingufakazi, obone konke okwenzekile,” kuphendula umshayeli weloli. “Kukhona indoda elimele kabi. Angikakayazi kodwa igama layo.”
Iphoyisa lasondela eduze kukaLeonard.
“Ndodana usaphila?” labuza. “Uyangizwa? Ungubani igama lakho?”
“Yebo, ngisaphila,” uLeonard, waphendula ngokuphelelwa umoya. Kwakunzima kuyena ukukhuluma. “Igama lami nginguLeonard Gregory. Ngicela ningiphuthumise esibhedlela. Ngiyafa.”
Wayezwa abesifazane esixukwini bemthandazela. Ngale sisikhathi yayisifikile i-ambulensi. Bamqukula bamfaka kwi-ambulensi yamphuthumisa esibhedlela eMount Frere.
Kwakunolayini omude esibhedlela. Abanye babelele phansi, abanye belele endaweni egcwele igazi. ULeonard wayebezwa bebubula besezinhlungwini. Umhlengikazi wambuka wanikina ikhanda. Wayopha kakhulu, kodwa abahlengikazi abakwazanga ukumsiza, ngenxa yesibalo esikhulu sabantu ababelinde usizo.
“Ingangithatha yini i-ambulensi ingiyise kwesinye isibhedlela?” wancenga ngezwi eliyisihosha. Umhlengikazi wambuka wanikina ikhanda. Amaambulensi aseTranskei ayengavumelekile ukuthatha iziguli aziyise ezibhedlela ezingaphandle kweTranskei.
Ngenhlanhla abahlengikazi bakwazi ukuthola imoto eyamthatha yamphuthumisa eGrey’s Hospital eMgungundlovu. EGrey’s odokotela bamxilonga. Kwakucacile ukuthi ulimele kakhulu, ngakhoke bamngenisa ngokushesha.