Njengoba kunguLwesihlanu wokuphela kwenyanga, umfo kaKhabazela wayezishayele isudu yakhe emnyama. Econsa, engahlalwa’mpukane. Isicathulo sakhe esinempumulo ecijile sicwebezela okwesibuko owawungazibuka kusona. Inyathela kancane imakwabo kwangathi iyenyanya. Babembukile abanye ozwakabo lapho ephuma ngesango, iloli alishayelayo eselikhohliwe, elishiye limi kanye namanye.
KwakunguLwesihlanu wakhe wokugcina, uDompi eseshiya phansi emsebenzini. Iminyaka yayingasavumi, abecashi babone kungcono ukuthi bamkhulule kulonyaka. Hhayi, okuhle ngukuthi babengamkhululi njena, bathe ukufutha emxhakeni kwabonakala.
Wuye lowaya ethi ukuqhwasha kancane lapho ehamba, eqomnde ngqo emshinini wokukhipha imali. Kwakukhona amadoda amahlanu, nawo esezokhiphela izingane imali. Afake isandla okhukhwini sibuye nesikhwanyana esincane semali akhiphe ikhadi. Qha, athi akulinda kancane, bese naye ithuba lokuthi akhiphe iholo lakhe lifike.
Amonyozele kuqala, ibese ethi laqu aqonde kuwo umshinikazi wansondo. Ezwe sekwehla umjulukwana, alifake emshinini ikhadi, licele izinombolo zakhe zemfihlo, azifake. Qha ngempela iphume imali. Ayihlithwe emshinini ayoyishutheka okhukhwini kanye nekhadi ngokushesha.
Okuyipheshana lomshini akumpintshe ngesandla ayokulahla emgqonyini kadodi oseduzane. Asuke lapho aqonde ngasegalashi lamafutha ezimoto okwakulapho ayezofika abambe ibhasi elilibhekise amakhaya, eMthululuze Kwahlabisa. Njengoba ehamba ngokushesha kanjena uyayizwa imali lena idamane imklwebha, ngobusha bayo. Afike egalashi acele indlu encane, qha uyaziwa lapho. Zonke izinsizwa zazimthapha kamnandi, enye ize ithi:
“Hhayi, njengoba namhlanje nenyanga iphela kuyasho ukuthi namhlanje uzasishiya nokuyisiphuzwana esibandayo.”
Amximfe ngenhliziyo uDompi. Lokhu komfana kucabanga ukuthi yena Khabazela angahamba athengelana nabafana baseMgungundlovu iziphuzo, usenguhulumeni kanti yini. Angazihluphi ngokumphendula ayongena endlini encane. Akaphathekile.
Ufuna ukuke athole ithuba lokuthukusa umnotho wakhe ngendlela yakhona. Eyokubusa ayifake esokisini langakwesokunxele, ebeke noma yini kwelangakwesokudla kaMaZondi nezingane okhukhwini lebhantshi. Ibese eyokuhamba ayishiye lapha esikhwameni.
Awuzwake, uma enze kanjena usuke esebenzile ngempela. Kuthi ngemva kwesikhashana aphume. Abonge aphinde avalelise ebafaneni basegalashi, wuye lowaya eseyolinda ibhasi langakubo kanye nezinye izisebensi.
Qha, kwakuyilona usuku elimnandi kuzona cishe zonke izisebenzi. Ubona abesilisa nabesifazane belengise imithwadlana abayithengela izingane. Nampa abanye baseqalile bezibusisa ngogologo, behlisa imimoya yakho. Bezizwa beyizinkinselana zesikhashana. Qha, wukuphela kwento yena Mkhize Khabazela angasoze ayenza.
Yena yonke into ethengwayo iyothengwa ngunkosikazi kusasa ekuseni, uyomhambisa edolobheni ngeveni kusasa, ngamanani aphansi. Abantu abofunda ukonga, bathenge ngamanani aphansi. Kusenjalo kuqhamuke nakuyilokhu okungamandiya athengisayo:
“Yebo baba, wena thenga lowashi bese uthola lokamu mahala. Shibhile kakhulu namhlanje.”
Azivalele umlomo uDompi. Ababuke abanye bakhipha imali yabo abayisebenze kanzima bathengana namakamu kanye nemisakazwana ababe ngayidingi njena sanhlobo. Qha yena wayesemdala kakhulu ukuthi angaze adlalwe ngamandiya. Wayezazi kahle zonke izindawo ayayethenga kuzona amandiya lana. Uma ewadinga amawashi namakamu uzoziyela lapho akuthole ngamanani aphansi.
Qha liqhamuke ibhasi. Onke amehlo athi njo kilona lize liyothi nsi lapha kubantu. Basho phakathi abagibeli. Lishayelwa nguZungu, iqili lamaqili. Bakhelene eMthuluze. Babingelelane noDompi. Amnikeze ama R20 uMkhize.
“Hawu noDompi, angisakwazi. Nasemahhashini awusaveli sanhlobo Khabazela.”
“Phela mina owami umsebenzi uyaye uthi ukungikhipha lapha kwazulu uyongifaka koGoli, ngihambe impela izinsuku kanye nezinsukwana.” UZungu agxofoxe umshini wethikithi likhafule ithikithi alinikeze uDompi.
“Njengoba bengithi ibhasi linguR14 uphi ushintshi wami Zungu?”
Ahleke uZungu: “Ewu, ngiyaxolisa Khabazela.” Abhekabheke esitsheni sakhe semali. “Ngisengakabi nawo ushintshi okwamanje. Ungayohlala phansi ngizokwazisa uma senguwutholile.”
“Hhayi khululeka ngizowulinda khona lapha.”
“Hhayi bo Khabazela, uyothini uma ibhasi seligcwala, phela baningi abantu lapha phandle. Angisoze ngawulibala ushintshi wakho, khululeka makhelwane wami. Hamba njena uyohlala phansi. Ngiyethemba ukuthi ukhathele uyingqulu.”
Angene ngapha aphume ngalena lawo. Lokhu okunguZungu kwasekufuna ukumlibazisa, aze ayikhohlwe nya imali yakhe. Imali ayeyisebenzele kanzima. Eqhuba iloli imini nobusuka, ewela amagquma kanye namagqumana. Lina noma likhipha umkhovu etsheni.
Phela oZungu laba njengoba babakhe izindlu zikanokusho ezinamagalashi amabili, kungenzeke ukuthi babecebe ngoshitshi wabantu. Njengoba izingane zakhe zonke zazifunda enyuvesi ebizayo eGoli, wuwona shintshi lona owawushiywa ngabagibeli abangakwazi ukuqaketheka kwemali. Ukuqakatheka kokonga ngisho isenti leli.
Anganyakazi uDompi. Alinde lapha eduzane noZungu. Selingamane ligcwale ibhasi leli inqobo njena yena utholile ushintshi wakhe. Uyoxola njena. Iningi labagibeli laba laligibela liphethe amathikithi eviki, noma enyanga. UZungu afike alibuke kanye bese elithi elixifiza ngomshini kulolosuku okufanele axifize kulona. Zonke izihlalo zize zigcwale.
Qha, ngenhlanhla kube khona ababili abakhokha ngemali. Utholakale kanjalo ushintshi kaDompi. Adede ayokuma laphaya emuva abambelele ngesandla. Lisuke ibhasi, lishosholoze kanjalo lize liyowela izibani zendlela. Kwakukhona uhele lwezimoto ezazizongena kuthelawayeka. Zinyonyoba kancani.
Ngawo njena lowo mzuzu kusukume uma odayisa amakhekhe, amaswidi kanye nogwayi. Ambuke uDompi esuka kwizihlalo ezingaphambili, akuthengisayo kusuka kwesinye isihlalo kuye kwesinye isihlalo. Edamene ekhophozela, aphinde amoyizela lapho kukhona abathengayo. Isandla singena siphuma okhukhwini lelokwe ayeligqokile.
Ababone nalabo ababekuthengile lokhu akuthengisayo behlafuna, ababhemayo bokhele bazibhemela ngokukhulu ukukhululeka. Kuhlekwa kumnandi, kwazise phela iningi lwabantu lalizizwa njengezinkinselana. Lapha eceleni kwakhe kwakuhleli okuyizingane ezintathu ezifake okuyizikhinjana kanye namayenjana esikole.
Wawuzibona ungabuzwanga muntu ukuthi iphango lase lizenzela kuzingane lezi. Okunye kwazo kwakumbuke ngeso eligcwele usizi lona owesifazane odayisayo. Kuthi lapho ibhokisana lakhe uma selifika qathatha kuDompi, umfanyana ehluleke ukuzibamba.
“Mama, besicela amakhekhe, silambile. Asikwazi ukudla, ibhasi lethu lisishiye emini.”
Amoyizele lona owesifazane. Asuke lapho athi kuDompi, “Baba, ziyakhala izingane. Uthi uyazizwa njena?”
UDompi amnyonkoloze kabi lowesifazene. Aze aphinde lona owesifazane ecabanga ukuthi uDompi akezwanga kahle.
“Baba, izingane zakho zikhala ngamakhekhe. Uthi uyazizwa njena?”
“Uthi izingane lezi ngezami?” Abuze aze azikhombe ngomunwe oqhaqhazelayo uDompi. “Hheyi wena muntu wesifazane ubiza izingane engingazazi ngezami ngizizale nawe yini?” Abuze kakhulu ukuze wonke umuntu olapha ebhasini ezwe kahle.
“Uxolo phela baba, bengi…ngingalwi phela. Bese ngisho njena.”
“Hheyi, ungaphinde uhamba ukhuluma nabantu ongabazi noma kanjani uyangizwa?” Axolise lona owesifazane, naye esebona ukuthi usezidonsele amanzi ngomsele.
“Ucabanga ukuthi imali yami engiyisebenzela kanzima ngishayela amaloli abelungu lina futhi lishisa yimali yokuthengelana nazo zonke izingane engingazazi amakhekhe? Hheyi, ezami izingane zingilindile ekhaya, uma zilambile izingane lezi azilambele mina.”
Qha, indaba ize ilanyulwe ngomunye owesifazane owavele wathengela amakhekhe bobathathu abafana. Asale ethetha uDompi, athi yena akayena uhulumeni. Yakhe imali uyacabangisisa ngaphambi kokuba ayisebenzisa.
Lishosholoze kanjalo ibhasi. Lapha phandle ubumnyama base bukhasa phansi. Ubona ngezibani zezimoto ukuthi kwakukhona imoto eyayilandela noma iphambana nalo ibhasi. Abanye abagibeli base beqalile ukuzibusela. Ugavini bewudlela ebhodlelweni, kuqhuma insini, kuncokolwa ngezasemsebenzini. Abasefazana nabo bezihefuzela amanga, abanye bethule bezidlela amathambo engqondo.
Naye okaMkhize wayezicabangela ngokwakufanele akwenze kusasa. Kuyothi lapho sebebuyile edolobheni ukuyothenga ukudla, uzosuka lapha ahambisele uStella imali yokugcina ayeyikweleta yendlu. Ngosonto yilapho ayokwazi ukwazisa uMaZondi ukuthi bona sebeyohlala endlini yabo entsha, elokishini IShashalazi, kwaD.
Akuthandayo ngelokishi leli ngukuthi laliseduzane nasemsebenzini kanye nasekholishi likaSizwesamahlubi umfana wakhe owayeyizibulo. Indlu lena wayeseneminyaka emihlanu eyikhokhela amancozuncozu. Akathandanga ukuthi udaba lwendlu lena aluthi vu kowakwakhe, kodwa qha kuhle ngoba ngenyanga ezayo sebeyozithola behlala endlini enamakamelo okulala amathathu, hhayi indlwana enekamelo elilodwa eyayakhiwe ngesihlabathi abahleli kuyona iminyaka engamashumi amabili nanhlanu.
Okwakumjabulisa du ngukuthi, yize indlu yakhe yasemakhaya yakhiwe ngesihlabathi basebekhona abayithengile. Imadlana yayo, yiyona uSizwesamahlubi ayaye zoyofundela ubunjinela bakhe lobo ngonyaka ozayo.
Uyabona, sekucabanga yena uDompi, kuhle kakhulu ukwazi ukusebenzisa imali kahle. Noma bekhona ababethi ungugombela kwesakhe uma bebona engathengi imfenisha njengawo onke amadoda asebenzayo. Bebona engakwazi ukuthengela inkosikazi yakhe ngisho okuyigutshana yangaphansi lena. Bebona ethengela izingane zakhe izingubo zesikole kuphela. Bethi usebenzela ubala, bengazi ukuthi lokho wayekwenziswa yinhlakanipho yokwazi ukusebenzisa imali.
Bebuka iveni yakhe endala, eyayiseneminyaka eyishumi nambili ehamba ngayo. Iveni angakaze akhiphe ngisho isenti leli ukuze abe nayo. Phela ukuze athole iveni lena umlungu owaqala ukuye ukusebenza wavela wamnikeza yona. Sebaningi kakhulu abantu ababefisa kwangathi angabathengisela yona. Ngisho kwaZungu lona wayeyifuna, ethi ufuna kube yimoto yakhe eyomthwalela izinkuni ehlathini.
Qha, wayengeke ayithengisa iveni yakhe. Futhi njengoba wayesebeke phansi nasemsebenzini, sasi ngasekho isidingo sokuthengana nezimoto ezintsha. Wayefuna ukuzitholela indlu, aphinde athenge nemfenisha. Ibese kuthi imadlana esele kube yiyona ezomlondoloza yena nesalukazi sakhe kanye nezingane.
Lishosholoze ibhasi, uMaZondi wayengazi lutho ngokushiya kwakhe umsebenzi. Zonke izindaba lezi wayezomazisa lapho sebesukile eMthuluze, indawo yabasokoci, indawo egcwele amaqili namaqola. UStella, kwakufanele naye azifunele indawo ethi yena. Phela indlu esedolobheni lena wasizwa nguStella, owayesebenzela khona eMgungundlovu ukuthi amkhulumele nomfowabo owayesekhethe ukuyozihlalela phesheya.
UDompi wakhipha isizumbulu semali wanikeza yena uStella lona, owayephinde amkhiphe isizungu. Hhayi wakwenza kahle kakhulu uStella. Wayihambisa imali, waze wabuya nesilipi esasikhombisa ukuthi imali wayifaka ebhange. Kwahamba kwahamba uDompi wacela ukubonana naye umfowabo, qha kwakuyinsizwa eqotho ngempela. Ubona ngemoto ayayehamba ngayo ukuthi wayeqaphuna kusale. Hhayi naye wakuqinisekisa ukuthi indlu lena yayizothengiselwa yena owakwaMkhize.
Aze asho kugcwale umlomo umfowabo Stella ukuthi wayengenayo inkinga yokuvele amnikeze ukhiye aqale ahlale kuyona, bavumelane ukuthi wayezoyikhokhela amancozuncozu iminyaka emihlanu. Ngenxa yokuthi isizungu sasibuye simbulale abone kungcono ukuthi avele esezisondezela yena uStella lona. Kuzakuba nguyena omphekelayo futhi ambhekele indlu lena.
Kodwa njengoba uStella wayeyintombi ezalwa eGoli, wayephinde anyamalale isonto lonke kungaziwa ukuthi ushonephi, abuye asho lokhu aphinde lokhuya. Emsebenzini babekhona ababephinde bamtshele ukuthi uStella lona wayezithokozisa nezinsizwa elokishini, ezidlela ugavini. Kwakuyisona sizathu esambamba ukuthi angawathumeli amabheka, inkosikazi edla ugavini yayiyiqhilo kwaMkhize.
Kwahamba kwahamba, wagcina esebuqeda ubudlelwane bakhe noStella ngokuthi avale acele ukuthi ayohlala ekamelweni elingemuva futhi amkhokhele imadlana encane yerenti. UStella akazange abe nayo inkinga.
Imali yendlu wayelokhu eyinikeza yena Stella lona ukuthi ayikhokhela kumfowabo, kuthi lapho esebuya ekhaya ngosonto afice isilipu sasebhange simlindili. Yize uStella lona wayezibhuqelwa wutshwala kepha wayenakho ukwethembeka.
Njengoba wayecabanga konke lokhu uDompi ibhasi lalingamile, yiyo leliya liyongena eMthuluze. Umuzi lona wawumnyama khwishi, uthule njena ubabukile bengena ngebhasi, lihamba libashiya izindawo ngezindawo. Umoya wendawo opholileyo uheleza, kuzwakale izinja ezazikhonkotha lena emizini eyayizifuyile. Athi lapho ehla uDompi afice uSizwesamahlubi kanye nabanye abafana sebemlindile.
Qha, yena njengenhlala yenza wayefika ekhaya elambatha njena. Kodwa lesisenzo somfana wakhe wayesitusa kakhulu, sasimkhombisa kahle ukuthi wayemkhathalela. Hhayi babingelelane ngako ukuxhawulana. Balandelane, asuke lapho uSizwesamahlubi amazise ngezinkukhu zakhe, okwakunguphela kwemfuyo zakhe eyayibulawe yizulu.
Kwakufe eziyisikhombisa zonke. Owu, akhuze uDompi. Yekanini ukulahlekelwa madoda! Ibese uSizwasamahlubi emcela ukuthi amthengela ikhomphuyutha njengoba yayizodingeka ngonyaka ozaya. Kwathi xifi kancani kuDompi.
“Kuyimalini lokho okushoyo Sizwe?”
“Okudala ungakuthola ngezinkulungwane ezimbili, kuthi-ke okusha kube yizi…”
Ame athi khimilili uDompi, amehlo akhe abonakale eselokoza ulaka khona lapho ebumnyameni.
“Izinkulungwane ezimbili? Uthi uyayazi ukuthi yimalini leyo. Musa ukuzongisanganela lapha wena, ucabanga ukuthi mina ngivuza imali yini? Angeke ngakwazi ukuyithenga leyonto mina. Kanti akusafudwa ngezincwadi yini kulezi zinsuku?” balandelane baze bayongena endlini kungekho oxoxisa omunye.
Naye uSizwesamahlubi aze azisole ukuthi wayesamtshelelani uyise. Athi lapho engena lokhu okunguMzuzu kugxume kanye kuye kuyise. Kubathe kuthi: “Baba iphi swidi, baba iphi swidi?”
Angazihluphi ngokukuphendula uDompi. Hhayi, kwaze kwalibala okuyingane kwalala. Qha kulalwe-ke.
Lithi liphuma elakusasa kwase kukudala kabi umnumzane womuzi esehamba egcekeni, ebheka ukuthi ingabe ucingo lwalusabiyelwe kahle. Kabe ihhoko lwezinkukhu lasiseme kahle. Iveni wayihlehlisa yema ngaphambi kwendlu, wayiyakayakaza ngamanzi maqede wangena endlini. Wageza baphuma sebelandela nesalukazi sakhe sebebheke edolobheni. Lapha emgwaqeni uMaZondi wayebuye abone imifino ethengiswayo. Ehluleke ngisho ukucela umyeni wakhe ukuba emise iveni babuke, ingani wayesazi kahle impendulo ayezoyithola lapho.
“MaZondi, ucabanga ukuthi imali yami engiyisebenzela kanzima kangaka yokuhamba ngithengana nako konke lokhu. Kanti imifino esiyitshale ensimini engemuva kwendlu ngeyokwenzani?” nalapho edolobheni okwakufanele akuthenge wayesekwazi ngekhanda uMaZondi.
Kwakuyimpuphu, isaka lamazambane, amafutha, inyama yenkukhu, insipho yokugeza kanye neyowasha. Kuphelela lapho-ke, konke kufanele kube eyamanani aphansi. Kuthi lapho ekaMkhize esekhokha uzombona esesesithela ekhipha isikhwama semali, imali lena eyibala eyibalisisa. Funa enze iphutha, kuthi lapho intombazane lena eshaya umshini isibona kahle ukuthi ukhokhe ngemali ethe ukweqa izithulele, ibisizulela imali esetshenzwe wuyena. Eshayela iloli labelinge lapho ilanga lishisa noma lina? Kuthi uma ekhokhe ngemali ehlangene ethe ukuba yiningana nawo ushintshi lona awubale awubalisise. Isilipu lesi asibukisise kahle.
Qha, ngalolo suku konke kuthi ukushesha. Ashiye uMaZondi ethenga yena ayongena ebhange phela esezokhipha imali yendlu. Athi uma ephuma afice isalukazi sakhe sesimlindile evenini. Hhayi konke kanti kuzoshesha uma kunjalo. Ithi ingehliswa impahla ayishaye iveni isibheke kude kude eMgungundlovu elokishini iShashalazi kwaD.
Ngalolosuku kube yisimanga kuyena ukufica nomnini wendlu ekhona. Amhlabe ngemali, bavumelane ukuthi isikoleti sesiphelile-ke manje. Abonge anconcoze umfowabo Stella. Njengoba wayesemazisile uStella ukuthi kofanele afune enye indawo nangempela wayesendleleni uStella. Ethi indawo wayeyithole khona lapha eduzane elokishini.
Athi esuka lapho okaMkhize acashe iloli elalizomthwalela impahla kanye nezingane lizobalahla lapha endlini entsha. Nembala iloli lilandele iveni baze bayongena EMthulaze. Babambe ongenzansi omaZondi kanye nezingane lapho sekuthiwa abaqoqe konke okwabo. Sekuthengwe indlu entsha ntsha.
Nethuba lokuvalelisa komakhelwane lingabi khona kubona. Nabo omakhelwane babaze isidumo abebehamba ngaso. Hawu, ngemuva kokuhlalisana kamnandi iminyaka eminingi kangaka sebengaze bahambisa okwabantu ababenukelwa ukuthakatha. Qha, noma kunjalo omakhelwane babafisele indlela emhlophe. Lithi uma liphuma iloli eligcwele impahla yakwaMkhize lilandelwa yiveni libe seliphambana neveni yabethenge indlu yakwaMkhize.
Yibo labawa sewushiya ngemuva umuzi uMthulaze, kude kude edolobheni.
UMkhize wayelihola phambili iloli leli. UMaZondi noMzuzu bethule cwaka. Okuyingane kudidekile ukuthi kwase kulibangiswephi. USizwesamahlubi elandela nomshayela weloli ngemuva, bezincokolela ingekho inkinga. Hhayi-ke kuse ngokunye kuDompi uma esefika emzini wakhe omusha ethola isimanga.
Nanti iloli eliluhlaza elalehlisa impahla. Kwakukhona owesifazane owayebonisa ababethwele ufenisha ukuthi bahambe kuphi.
Hhayi-bo, uthi kwakukhona endlini yakhe. Ehle evenini exhamazela abukisise inombolo yendlu, yebo kwakunguye kanye unombolo 7. Pho abantu laba babefunani emzini othi yena. Athukuthele aganwe unwabu.
“Hheyi enehlisa ufenisha!” bathukwe abafana abaqukula ifenisha, bajeqeze bambone engena ngesango engasadle nkobe zamuntu. “Ningobani futhi yimfenisha kabana lena eniyehlisa emzini othi mina?”
Bangazi abafana ukuthi bamphendule bathini. Badideke njena. Omunye amkhombise owesifazane owayefake izibuko, okwakunguyena owayebayalela ukuthi bayingenise kuphi imfenisha.
“Uthini? Uthi yindlu yakho lena wena?” Sekusho lona owesifazane ngelokubhuqa, aze akhiphe nezibuko ukuze babukane kahle ngeziqu zamehlo benalo mlisa.
“Ehhene, kukwami lapha. Ngayithenga kudala kabi indawo lena. Futhi nginabo ububafazi obusho ukuthi ngangiyikhokhela kancane kancane, ngikho…”
“Hheyi wena, yindlu yami lena. Ngayithenga ngemali ngebhange emanyakeni eyishumi eyandlulayo. Sonke lesi sikhathi yayicashwe ngumlisa mumbe. Nginazo izincwadi ezikugunyazayo. Futhi indlu lena ibhaliswe ngegama lami. Uma uthi uyithengile uyithenge kubani ngokuba bekufanele uyithenge kimina? Mana lapho ngikulandele izincwadi ezishoyo ukuthi ngeyami…”
Lidume ikhanda likaDompi. Ezwe esenesiyezana, asuke lapho ayoncika ngeveni yakhe. UMaZondi aze abuze.
“Hawu, baba kanti kwenzanjani manje?”
Lidume ikhanda.