Umqondo kaSanele ubuya ngoba eyibona isondela esiphongweni imbokodo yetshe. Uyavika, imshaye engalweni. Ubaleka angene ngaphakathi egumbini likaSipho.
“Valani isango Makhubo, nibophe lowo ojikijele imbokodo!” kumemeza uMabaso. Unyusa isibhamu, akhombe uSanele.
“Hayibo, Thabani!” kubabaza isalukazi, sibuka lelibhungu lensizwa licosha amanye amatshe “Amaphoyisa azomvalela nje! Umshayelani umtomdala?”
“Azomdedela lo amaphoyisa!” kuphendula uThabani. “Makakhandwe ngamatshe naye!”
UThabani usho lokhu ecosha amanye amatshe efuna ukungena ngesango egcekeni lakwaKhumalo.
“Hhayi ndodana! Yekela amaphoyisa enze umsebenzi wawo!” kuthetha uBaba uKubheka evimba uThabani.
“Thula wena, Khathide!” kusho uThabani enxapha. “Suka phambi kwami! Umkhulu ngabe uyaphila ukube lenja engaphakathi ayimbulalanga!”
“Ngiyakuzwa, kodwa ngicela ungavumeli intukuthelo ikwenzise into ozozisola ngayo impilo yakho yonke!” kusho uBaba uKubheka ebuka uThabani emehlweni.
UThabani ududula uBaba uKubheka, alibuke ikhehla lishayeka ngomhlane phansi. Elinye iphoyisa, uMakhubo, liphuthuma livale isango. Kusondela amanye amaphoyisa abambe uThabani nabangani bakhe.
“Mnumzane, phuma lapho endlini!” kusho uMabaso eqondise kuSanele. “Izandla phezulu!”
USanele uphuma ebambe indololwane lapho imbokodo imnembe khona. Ubuka umphakathi ogcwele esangweni, amehlo agcwale izinyembezi.
“Akusimina obulele uSipho,” kusho uSanele sakuhleba ebuka uMabaso emehlweni. “Angenzanga lutho, ngimsulwa. Ngicela ungithembe ngoba ngiqinisile. Ngifike sekunjena lapha. Angazi ukuthi ubani owenze konke lokhu. Okungenani ngicela niyobheka uMaKhumalo egumbini lakhe, angangifakazela. Hleze yena angakuchazela ukuthi ngubani owenze konke lokhu.”
“Cha, Mnumzane, namhlanje uzolala ubaliwe. Uwena nje indoda yejazi engumalugaju,” kusho uMabaso ebala amagama, ewapha isigqi esiwafanele, amehlo ebuka insimbi yokujeka imoto enegazi ephethwe nguSanele. “Ngiyafunga ngiyagomela, uyobolela ejele. Namuhla uyoke usitshele ukuthi imizimba yenqwaba yabantu obabulele uyifihla kuphi!”
“Hhayi bo, phoyisa, wenza iphutha! Mina ngiziphumela eSoweto ngizobheka umuntu engisebenza naye. Ngifice isimo sinjengoba nawe ubona.” kubabaza uSanele. “Abantu obashoyo, bengibabulala kuphi mina?” kubuza uSanele, edidekile.
“Madoda, nisameleni?” kubuza uMabaso ebuka amanye amaphoyisa. “Niyamsaba yini? Ngithe mthatheni!” kuthetha uMabaso njengoba ebuka isidumbu sikaSipho. Uphenduka abuke uSanele athi, “Mnumzane, you have the right to remain silent, everything that you say here, will be held against you in the court of law! Mnumzane, lahla phansi leyonsimbi!”
“Hhayi bo!” kubabaza uSanele njengoba sekwenzeka angakulindele nhlobo. “Animeni madoda,” esho elahla phansi insimbi yokujeka imoto. “Angenzanga lutho mina, njengoba besengishilo, ngiyazifikela kulendawo. USipho ngumngani wami, angisoze ngambulala!”
Uhlehla kancane njengoba iphoyisa lisondela liphethe uzankosi.
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Sitshele umbono wakho: Uthini ngesenzo samaphoyisa sokubopha uSanele?