Community members gathered around Mr Nkomo’s spaza shop when they saw two police vehicles parked next to it. Shiyabazali was a crime-infested informal settlement. Every time there were police in the area, people would gather around to find out what was happening.

“Are you Mr Nkomo?” a police officer asked, when Mr Nkomo finished serving a customer.

“Yes I am, what can I help you with, officer?” Mr Nkomo replied, looking surprised.

“Can you please come out from behind the counter, sir, and lock up if there is no one to assist you. You are under arrest for having sex with an underage girl. You have the right to remain silent. Everything you say will be used…”

As the police officer was busy reading him his rights, Mr Nkomo was overcome with confusion. His heartbeat and thoughts were racing, he started sweating furiously. It was Nosipho who did this to him, he thought. How could this girl bring him so much embarrassment after he had done so much for her? He thought he had everything under control.

“Err…officer…I think…err…this is a mistake. I didn’t…”

“Sir, let’s go! You will have a chance to talk at the police station. We don’t have much time,” the officer said, not letting Mr Nkomo finish his sentence.

“Mr Nkomo! What is happening? Who is getting you arrested?” Mrs Majola asked. She had forced her way past a female police officer who tried in vain to stop her from entering the shop.

“Jolo, I don’t know. But I think it’s that Nosipho who is lying about me, after I helped her and her brothers. She is a liar like her drunkard parents!”

“That little devil! Don’t worry about this, Mr Nkomo. We, as the community, are behind you. We will help you deal with this ungrateful child! How can she lie about you like this?”

“Thank you, Jolo,” Mr Nkomo said, as the police officer cuffed him and started pushing him towards the waiting police van.

As the police vehicles left in a hurry with Mr Nkomo, Mrs Majola called the community members to gather around her.

“As we have all seen, Mr Nkomo has been arrested! Nosipho, that orphan who lost her parents recently, lied about him. We all know what a good man Mr Nkomo is, he would not sleep with a minor! So we have to do something about this as a community because Mr Nkomo has been good to us all!” she shouted, at the top of her voice.

“That girl must be chased away from this community!” one community member said.

“Her shack must be destroyed today!” said another.

“Yes, members! For all we know, this girl threw herself at Mr Nkomo, now she is crying rape. We all know how these young girls are these days.”

“Let us deal with this girl today! If we don’t, she will sleep with our husbands and lie about them too!” another woman said.

“We will meet at 17:00 today to deal with this once and for all! Amandla!” Mrs Majola shouted.

“Awethu!”

“Thando! Thando! Where is this child? Thando!”

“I’m here, mom,” Thando answered, coming out of her room.

“Come here my daughter, we need to talk,” Mrs Majola said, sinking down on her rugged leather couch. Thando settled down next to her.

“What’s up, mom?”

“It’s your friend, Nosipho. She got Mr Nkomo arrested.”

“What! But why? What did Mr Nkomo do?” Thando asked, a surprised expression on her face.

“Your friend lied to the police, saying Mr Nkomo was having sex with her! Just imagine,” Mrs Majola said, throwing her hands in the air.

Thando’s face suddenly changed, filling with sadness. She turned away from her mother but Mrs Majola noticed.

“What’s wrong, Thando, why do you look so sad all of a sudden?”

Thando was quiet for a minute or two before answering her mother. “Mom.”

“Yes, my daughter?”

Thando went quiet again, her eyes teary.

“Thando, what’s wrong, did you know what Nosipho was up to and you did not tell me?”

“No mom, I didn’t know, but maybe Nosipho wasn’t lying.”

“What do you mean? You know Mr Nkomo would do no such thing!”

Thando took a deep breath and wiped tears that were now flowing down her face.

“Mom, Mr Nkomo asked to sleep with me too. He said he was going to give me money and we would keep it a secret.”

Thando stood up, went to her room and shut the door behind her. Mrs Majola’s jaw dropped.

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