We are woken up by the sounds of kicking, trucks and metal screeching. It’s a Saturday morning. 

Mama walks out from her bedroom, and stands by the coal stove. Lizo jumps into her arms. It’s 06:43. 

“Mama, I’m scared.” Lizo cries.

Nhlanhla shuffles her blankets and stands up, I stand up too.

“Whats going on, out there?” Mama silently asks herself.

Papa has already left for work.

“I’ll go check.” I yawn, and pull on my vest. 

Just then, we hear a woman screaming, babies crying, more kicking and metal screeching. Mama jumps and grabs my hand.

“Don’t go out, Mbuso.” She states.

Now I’m scared too, what is going on out there?

“I’ll go.” Mama hands Lizo to me.

“No Mama! Let us all stay inside, safe.” Nhlanhla shouts.

Mama is stubborn, she shakes her head, then pulls on her morning gown.

Just as she’s about to walk to the door, a large boot kicks down our door. A tall, Boer man emerges, wearing uniform. He has no hint of kindness on his face. His ginger beard is dripping with beads of sweat.

“Get out!” He pulls Mama by the hand, as she’s closest.

Mama gets pulled outside, we follow her and find her sprawn across the soil. Her pink nightgown now brown. She stands up, Lizo cries and she holds him.

“You people who told you to come live here? This is private property!” He yells.

I look around, every shack is being kicked down by men and women in uniforms. They claim this is their private property.

I watch as three men come to assist in tearing down our shack, and loading it into their huge van. People are crying. The people from the other side, the ones from the big houses, seem happy that they’ll finally have their sports field back. 

“We told them! This is no place to stay” the community of Tankiso laughs.

I want to cry, just then, I spot Thabiso and his crew laughing at me. I look away, then run. I don’t know where I’m going, I just run, deeper into the forest.