That’s all anyone seemed to be able to say. How unfair it was, how Lizo of all people shouldn’t have to go through this.
A tear trickled down Bhuti’s cheek. “I feel so helpless. I wish I could do something to help him.”
Bhuti and Laula sat in silence, watched by the faces of all the councillors who promised to make their world a better place to live in.
Bhuti’s phone beeped and he pulled it out of the inside pocket of his blazer.
“It’s Lizo,” he said. “He’s back.”
By the time Bhuti and Laula got home, a crowd had started to gather outside the house. Mothers of the kids who played soccer with Lizo, friends of the family, men who used to work with Lizo’s dad on construction sites all over the city. His teachers. Lizo’s classmates from schooldays.
“You see, babe?” Laula said. “You see? Forget Odwa and his brutes. These are the people who matter. The ones who love Lizo.”
Lizo was standing on the doorstep chatting to Mr Dlodlo. Ciki, Thandisizwe, Zandile and Dumisa were standing around him, and to Bhuti they looked like warriors standing tall and ready to defend their leader.
Lizo caught Bhuti’s eye and waved. “Hey, Bhu!” he called out. “Your criminal brother’s not in the clear yet.”
Bhuti and Laula made their way to the front of the crowd.
“Whoa! Bhu, what happened to your face, man?”
Mothers clucked their tongues in dismay as they saw Bhuti’s bruises, the blood on his collar.
“Never mind—” Bhuti said.
“Odwa Nondlwana and that whole gang,” Laula said at the same time and there was an angry rustle among the people gathered behind her.
“Don’t worry about him,” Bhuti said impatiently. “What do you mean, criminal?”
Lizo laughed again, but his eyes were strained and worried. “I got the affidavit from the police. I provided a copy of my ID and my passport to prove that I am who I’ve always been. I ticked all their boxes,” Lizo laughed, “but now they’re going to ‘investigate’ the problem more thoroughly. Until they do, I have to wait.”
The voices in the crowd grew louder.
“Who did this?”
“This is so not right.”
“Lizo, of all people!” Mma Tshabangu’s voice rose above the rest. “My little Mdu, he’s so upset. ‘How can they be so mean to Lizo, Mama?’ That’s what he’s asking me every minute. That’s what I want to know too. How can they do this to our Lizo?”
“Something must be done!”
“We cannot let this happen.”
Mr Dlodlo stepped forward and raised his hand. “We are all very upset,” he said, “but now is the time for calm, clear-headed thinking. Obviously Lizo had absolutely nothing to do with this nonsense. But he and I have spoken seriously about this and we have agreed. We cannot react with anger, no matter what some people might be saying.” He looked directly at Bhuti as he spoke, and smiled. “Even when they are trying to provoke us, make us less than who we are.”
Bhuti ducked his head. Still, no matter what Mr Dlodlo said, it felt good to have landed at least one punch before Odwa laid into him.
Mr Dlodlo wasn’t finished with his mini lecture. “No matter how unfair this all seems, we must wait to see what the Auditor General’s office reveals. And we must wait patiently and peacefully.” He took a deep breath and a ripple of fond amusement ran through the crowd. Mr Dlodlo’s eyes twinkled. “Yes, yes, I know,” he put up a hand and smiled wryly. “Mr Quote-for-every-occasion Dlodlo, that’s me. But these are the words of one of the greatest men of all.”
He took a deep breath and his chest swelled. “The American leader, Martin Luther King, Jr., said, ‘Darkness cannot drive out darkness; only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate; only love can do that.’” Mr Dlodlo’s voice trembled with emotion. “Like Ghandi, he believed in non-violence. ‘At the centre of non-violence stands the principle of love.’ That’s what Ghandi said and that is what we must hold onto.”
“Mr Dlodlo,” Bhuti said under his breath to Laula, “you gotta love the guy.”
“It’s working, though,” Laula said. “People are settling down.”
***
Tell us: What do you think of Martin Luther King’s quote? Do you think it’s true?