I last saw my brother two years ago, on the day I was convicted. He never visits me. I know he always chooses the right side of any conflict, and right now, I am on the wrong side. This other day – I do not know whether to call it a lucky day, or God coming to my side, or just my time to have victory – but something happened that made no sense to me.

On that day, a male prison guard came into the cell and called out my name. “Kagiso Magau, you have a visitor. Young man, wake up,” he said.

I was both confused and happy at the fact that someone had thought of me, and I was very sure it was my brother. “Is it my brother Mr guard?” I asked.

“No, it is a young lady. I think she is your girlfriend,” he responded, laughing.

“Girlfriend?” I asked.

“Hey man wena siboshwa, stop asking questions,” he responded. “Let us go, or you don’t want to meet with her?”

“No I am coming with you sir,” I responded.

We then walked out of the prison cell and went to the visitor’s room. “She is sitting at visitor’s table number 6,” the prison guard said.

As I was walking towards the table, I was very confused. I did not know who the girl was, but she looked familiar. “Hi,” I greeted.

“Hi Kagiso,” the girl responded.

“Sorry to ask you this question, but I would like to know who you are,” I said.

“Hi Kagiso, I am Dineo, Palesa’s best friend. I know you might not remember me, but I was at the party the night when that incident took place,” Dineo responded.

“Yeah, I kind of remember you,” I said. “Were you not in Aphelele’s car that day?”

“Yes I was, and I came here to let you know that I am sorry I did not help you during this situation. I know that you are innocent, and I also saw everything that day. I really want to help you. It was my fault that Aphelele killed Palesa. I was jealous and I …” Dineo said, and then started to cry.

“Hey, hey, wait. I really need to process this. You are not making any sense, and I am confused,” I said, and I could feel my eyes filling with tears.

The things Palesa was saying made no sense to me at all. I had mixed emotions. I felt happy, sad, angry, frustrated, and betrayed, and these emotions resulted in me breaking down. I could not handle myself, so I just wanted to cry, and I felt my anxiety attacks suppressing me harder than they had ever before.

***

Tell us: Do you think it was fair for Palesa to keep quiet about the truth for all those year?