Izinkinga zempilo sezaphendula uZelwande waba ngumuntu ongenabo ubuthongo. Uphaphama ekuseni ngovivi ngo 3:30 akhumbule izinsuku zakudala besaphila abazali bakhe. Uyakhumbula ukuthi wayelala zwi aphuphe amaphupho amnandi ngesikhathi besaphila abazali bakhe.

Uvuka apheke iphalishi elingenawo usawoti. Bathi beqamba bevuka oSenzo no-Aphile amanzi abo okugeza ayabila.Emuva kokugeza kwabo uZelwande ubaphakela iphalishi.

Amehlo ka-Aphile aphenduka ingilazi ekukhanyeni kwekhandle. “Iphalishi njalo! Mina angisalifuni iphalishi!” kusho u-Aphile edudula indishi enephalishi.

“Awukahle ukutefa wena. Uyathanda ukukhala!” Kubhavumula uSenzo, ephuza iphalishi lakhe.

“Njalo nje la ekhaya thina sidla ukudla okumbi!” U-Aphile ukhononda nje usechize ngisho ebusweni, nesipuni usesijikijele laphaya.

“Kodwa seyashonaphi inhlonipho, Aphile? Kunabantwana abazoya esikoleni bengadlile. Wena bonga lokho onakho!”

Umane uyathetha nje naye uZelwande. Naye ushekhathele ukudla into eyodwa inyanga yonke.

“Ngiyaxolisa,” kusho u-Aphile.

UZelwande uyambuka u-Aphile eliphuza iphalishi. Uphaka ukudla kwayizolo – i-minced meat, i-rice kanye ne-salad– ezikhafutinini zika-Aphile noSenzo.

“Sheshisani, ningaze nishiywe isikhathi sesikoleni,” kusho uZelwande.

Kuba ukuphuma kwabo asale uZelwande adle iphalishi, ageze, naye aphume. Isikhathi manje sekungu 7:30. Sekuphele amahora amane evukile.

Sekuthule cwaka eMathinini manje. Izingane zisezikoleni, abadala basematohweni. Uhamba nje uZelwande naye akazi ukuthi ulibangise kuphi. Into ayaziyo ukuthi kufanele abuye nemali yokuthenga ukudla kwasendlini kanye nemali yokuthenga ikhadi likagesi.

Uma qingqo, amamatheke, ahambe ngomfutho uma esengena ezithabathabeni zaseChatsworth. Phela abanikazi bemizi kulendawo angeke bakuqashe uma ubukeka sengathi ungumuntu ovilaphayo futhi ohlinayo.

“Washing makoti! Washing makoti!” Kumemeza uZelwande ehamba emgwaqeni uLenny Naidoo Drive.

Uhamba ememeza kanjena, ekhombisa ukuthi angawasha izingubo ngemali encane, azungeze yonke indawo yaseChatsworth. Omama bamandiya balunguza ngamawindi, bambuke phansi bambuke phezulu, babheke le. Iningi labo linabo vele abantu abasebenza ezindlini. Izinyawo zikaZelwande ziyafutha ngesikhathi ephumula ebhentshini lasepaki eseHavenside Drive.

Uyathula, ezama ukwehlisa umoya kodwa izinkinga ziyamgqiba. Uma ezwa sengathi uyahluleka uvele aphonse imicabango ezikhathini zakudala.

Ingakho manje uZelwande ekhumbula, ngesineke, ukuthi yayinjani impilo ngesikhathi besaphila abazali bakhe. Unina noyise babenza konke okusemandleni ukuze izingane zabo zithokomale empilweni. Ukhumbula ukufudumala ayekuzwa enhliziyweni uma ebambe izandla zabo kanye nohleko olwaluqhuma eflethini ababehlala kulo.

Kukhala ithayi, kume imoto eceleni komgwaqo. UZelwande uphakamisa ikhanda. Umama womundiya wehlisa iwindi esicabheni somshayeli.

“Hey, what are doing there? Are you looking for a job?” kubuza lo mama.

“Yes, madam, I’m looking for a job,” kuphendula uZelwande.

“Jump in. I have a job for you.”

***

Sitshele umbono wakho: Umlando wezwe lethu usikhombisa ukuthi i-domestic work yayihamba ngebala lomuntu. Kwakungabantu abamhlophe ababeqasha ama-domestic workers angabantu abamnyama. Ucabanga ukuthi lukhona ushintsho kulolu daba?