In the area of Damini there was a girl named Nobuhle. Nobuhle lived with her father Mthimkhulu and her father’s wife maMthembu. Nobuhle’s mother died in a car accident two years ago. maMthembu had three daughters named Thandekile, Thando, and Thandeka.

A few months later, Nobuhle’s father died. MaMthembu first abused Nobuhle in a sad way. She treated her daughters like eggs, but Nobuhle was a gum that they chewed and then threw away when it had no more sugar. Nobuhle was struggling because she was not allowed to go to school or play with other children.

Every morning she had to get up and prepare Thandekile, Thando, and Thandeka’s school clothes, make them school sandwiches, cook porridge, wash the dishes, clean the house and wash all their clothes.

If there was one thing she didn’t do, she would get bitten up by her stepmother.

“Nobuhle you are very lazy and that’s why your father just left you, but why would he stay if you’re behaving in a bad way and he left you because you’re useless.” said maMthembu hitting Nobuhle

These words of maMthembu really hurt Nobuhle to the extent that she was even starting to think that her father had left her because of course he didn’t love her, she was even thinking crazy things.

Every day she had to cook food for them to eat in the afternoon. When it was time to eat, maMthembu would say she should not to eat but to polish Thando’s shoes.

“Nobuhle, before you can start eating. Go and polish Thando’s shoes, you will eat when we have finished our meal but when it’s finished you will see for yourself what to do because there is no more food to be cooked in my house.” said maMthembu

“Yes, mother.” said Nobuhle, but inside his heart he was grinding

“Yes mother, yes mother, but you’re still standing here in front of me. Go and do what I’m telling you before I slap you, get out of here!” said maMthembu, scolding Nobuhle.

Nobuhle left, shedding tears but not wanting to be seen because she would be bitten if she was seen crying. she polished the shoes and then went to sleep.

She would always pray when she went to sleep, asking the lord to help her out of the trap she was in, and she also asked her parents to give her light wherever they are, to always look after her but not abandon her.

“Father, God, I am Nobuhle, I am asking you, father, to help me out of the trouble I am in. Please light the way for me, take me out of the trap, my lord, I am asking you with all my heart. Mother and father, wherever you are, please always protect me, and fight with me in this battle of Satan that I am in. Please be a good angel to me andwherever are you please help me. Amen.” Nobuhle prayed with tears in my eyes.

For several months, Nobuhle’s prayers were answered, and she was picked up by Social Workers. They were all wondering and wondering who called them, so maMthembu to tried to deny everything they said but they didn’t listen to her anymore and just took Nobuhle and went with her.

Social workers were called by a neighbor who saw all this happening.

Nobuhle went and stayed at an orphanage until she had parents who would adopt her. These parents were loving and caring for Nobuhle, she got everything she needed and she became an active and respectful child. Her parents enjoyed living with Nobuhle because she was a humble and calm child.

UmaMthembu was arrested for abusing a child, and depriving her of her rights to study, to be cared for, to be loved, and to play, and the magistrate in court also denied her bail.

Thandekile, Thando and Thandeka suffered all their lives, without a parent who would take care of them and love them. Thembi always hoped that Nobuhle’s father’s money would come to them and but no, everything that Mthimkhulu had was written by Nobuhle, even the house they lived in, but because Nobuhle had a good heart and was kind she gave up the house and said they could live in it and gave them a little money so that they could continue to live while they waited for their mother.

Her parents are very proud of her good deed.