ELALINI
ISAHLUKO SOKUQALA
Kwaku ngecawe ngenj’ ixukuxa, uMamkabane ongu Nonkonzo esothuswa yimfonomfono yakhe kanti intyiloziswa ngunyana wakhe uVusumzi oneminyaka esixhenxe engasa goduki .Wamka emva koku phumelela kwakhe ibanga leshumi elinesibini, waze wayakufundela ubugqirha egoli. UMangconde wayengumfazi wasezilalini wazimanyana ngeqhina lomtshato no mfo waseNgconde ogama lingu Sihlangu Msizi, owayephangela emgodini. uNgconde wafumana ingozi ngonyaka odlulileyo apho wayesebenza khona, waze wathatha umhlala phantsi kuba isimo sakhe sasingamvumeli abuyele emsebenzini.
Kwathi ngosuku olulandelayo ngomvulo uMangconde walungisa igumbi lonyana wakhe UVusumzi Msizi, waze walungiselela umyeni wakhe owayehamba ngentonga yakhe ukutya kwangentseni.
” Khawutsho mfazi wam, ucinga licebo elihle eli lokuba uVusi makabuyele apha ezilalini kube ubugqwirha bume ngenyawo zombini?” Wabuza uNgconde erhabula ikofu yakhe.
“Myeni wam ndakube ndiyaxoka ukuba ndithi licebo elihle elo, kodwa uVusi kudala wamkayo apha endlini kuyadingeka akhe atsibe apha ekhaya azothatha intsikelelo zoyis’ omkhulu,” waphendula ngelishoyo uMangconde.
“Ndakuva mfazi ntonje ndinexhala lalempumelelo aza nayo apha kulelali, akazokhuseleka tu kudala bemjonge ngamehlo abomvu.” waphendula ngelitshoyo uMkabane.
“Ndiyayazi lonto myeni wam kodwa iyakusinceda into yokuba xa efika siye ku bawo uTshawe akhe amphathaphathe kunye nemoto le yakhe azanayo,” wacebisa njalo uMangconde.
” Kulungile mfazi sakwenza njalo xa efikile,” wavuma uMkabane.
“Yazi Thenjiwe mhlobo wam, oko iqalile leveki andide ndiyeke ukufumana lamaphupha mabi ngalo mfana ume ebumnyameni,” watsho uSinesipho.
“Mhlobo wam nangoku lomfana umphuphayo awukamboni tu ukuba ngubani?” Wabuza uThenji.
” Tu! Mhlobo wam kumfiliba nagoku ndithetha nawe nje , into endiyaziyo kukuba kudingeka ndimncedile kuloMama ungcolileyo kwaye kufuneka ndimfumane kuqala kunaye,” waphendula ngelishoyo uSinesipho.
“Uyayazi nje mhlobo wam ukuba akukho namnye umntu ekufuneka ayazi ngesi sipho unaso,” wacebisa njalo uThenji.
“Ndiyayazi shlobo, masiqhubeke nendlela ntombi engeka khwazi laMadlamini,” waphendula njalo uSinesipho beqhubekanendlela.
“Thumeka!… kunini ndikubiza ulibele zincwadi,” wakhwaza njalo uMagawula.
“Ndaxolisa mama bendisagqibezela umsebenzi wesikolo,” waphendula njalo uThumeka.
” Bendingathanga kuwe isikolo asibalulekanga kwintombi engangawe, kube ndizaku tshatisa uyokha owakho umzi njengentombi ka Jwarha,” wamngxolisa njalo ethethela phezulu.
“Andifuni kutshata mna mama, ndifuna ukufunda njengo Sinesipho Thahla,” Waphendula ngelizwi eliphezulu uThumeka ebukeka enomsindo.
“Ayizokunceda ke le uyithethayo kuba uyihlo sekufumanele indoda ozotshata nayo, kwaye lo Sinesipho undingxolela ngaye akasenabazali lilolo nje elicholwe nguMadlamini elingatshatanga, ngoko ke ungaphinde ubize igama lakhe kwelikhaya wena uyatshata uthanda ungathandi uzova ngale indim intombi kunjenje uzakundibona ukuba ndibhinqe ngantoni, sekuthen na lento ndizolawulwa ngumtana unani,” waphendula ngelitshoyo uMagawula , ekwanazo nentshwabulo.