JEUGMAAND: Die Universiteit van Wes-Kaapland se Kommunikasie en Bemarkingsafdeling het drie van die beste kortverhale van die Afrikaans Departement versoek. Die stories handel oor die student en sy of haar omgewing, geskryf in die taal van hul streek. Alice Berries, ‘n taalkunde student het haar storie gedeel.
“Jong as hy wil ry, moet hy maar ry. Jy kan mos sien ek is nog besig om my voorskooi aan te trek.”
Lena kyk haar ma grootoog aan. “Vir wat is Mamma weer ve’oggend so vol storms?”
“Jong! moenie vir my staan twak vra nie! Loop koop daar by die Somaliër vir my smoothies en daai suikerlekkers wat die klogoed so loop eet hier.”
“Watse suikerlekkers, Mamma? Halfmoons?”
“JAA!”
Lena vat die geld uit haar ma se hand, sien hoe moeg haar ma lyk. Pappa was weer gesyp gistraand, het vroegdag al begin drink. Die reuk van dagga en buttons het sommer so voor hom by die voordeur ingewalm. Mamma het maar niks gesê nie anders was dit weer oorlog.
'n Mens kan sien dit is somer in die Kloof. Die son gaan steek vandag, sy kan dit voel. Hierdie tyd van die jaar raak die Kloof verskriklik warm. “Ek wonder hoeveel grade is dit vandag? Ek kan nie eers op my foon kyk nie, die signal is alweer weg”, dink sy vies. Die gedreun van die trekkers wat die bome natspuit kan ver gehoor word in die boorde. As jy so oor die blink dakkies kyk, kan jy hulle doer oorkant in die Du Toits se boorde sien. Hulle besit nou sowaar plase van die Bo-Kloof tot doer in die Onder-Kloof.
Soos sy nader aan die winkel kom sien sy die hek is nog toe. “Kan die donnerse mense nie die winkel oopmaak nie? Ek hou ga van so deur die hek koop nie,” praat sy met haarself.
“Môre Abdul, vir wat is die hek nog toe? Julle weet 'n mens koop in die oggend!”
“Hoekom jy raas so vroeg. Wat soek jy?”
“Gee twee rand se smoothies en drie rand se halfmoons. Jy vat net nie met jou vuil hande aan daai halfmoons nie. Julle hou nie was nie.” Abdul lag en skud net sy kop. “Jy Lena, jy moet ophou skel jy.”
Terwyl Lena wag kom daar 'n kind wat lyk asof hy nou net uit die kooi uit opgestaan het. Die slaap sit nog in die oë, kaalvoet, vuil en verkreukel. Dit lyk asof die kind netso in die kooi gaan klim het met die klere waarin hy gespeel het. Die tien rand in sy hand lyk soos hy, vuil en verkreukel. Abdul gee die lekkers en terwyl sy wegstap hoor sy die kind se “? halwe brood en twee five bob entjies”.
Haar ma, ant Baby, kom maar stadig aan.
“Kom Mamme, ons moet vinniger loop daai oom Piet hou nie van wag nie. Daai Piet hou hom verniet so windgat van hy ook nou kamstig die bus ry. Dink die bus hoort aan hom. Het Mamme gehoor wat het Klonkies en Ismail van oorle ant Marie gedoen? Hulle loop breek wragtig doer bo by die kerk in. Glo die drade gesteel, pastoor is glo met die poelieste tot daar by oom Piet se huis.”
“Nou wat wou die klogoed met die drade maak?”
“Seker maar die koper uithaal, soos wat hulle maar doen. Ek hoor Pappe loop ook by daai boetie waar hulle die drade loop en ingee vir tik. Dit is waar hy sy so loop en skuld maak vir sy groen twak. Daardie mannetjie kan gerus teruggaan waar hy ook al vandaan kom, die mense kom doer van ver om ons huise ongelukkig te maak.”
“Die Here sal moet intree in die plek,” sê ant Baby. “Ismail is ook nou uitgedraai soos plaasbotter, oorle Marie draai in haar graf om as sy moet weet water soort van 'n mens hy nou is. Hy was so ordentlike kind toe Marie nog geleef het.”
“Klonkies is ook nie 'n slegte kind nie, Mamma. Hy was nog altyd baie slim op skool. Dit is die tik wat hom so maak.”
In Kerkstraat is 'n gewemel van mense op pad werk toe. Almal is haastig. Onder teen die teerpad staan die verskillende plase se rygoed. Dis lorries, busse en trekkers. Van die manne hang soos voëls aan takke aan die oorvol lorries. Trekkerwaens is volgepak van die mans en vroue op pad boorde toe. Die vroue se gesigte is geel gesmeer om die steek van die Langkloof son te verhoed. Mamma sê die rooi klip is ook goed vir sonbrand. Daai sonroom is hopeloos te duur vir 'n plaaswerkersloon.
Oom Jan staan nog met 'n twakpil in die mond. Hy trek sy laaste skyf voor hy dit doodmaak en in sy baadjie sak druk en op 'n lorrie spring wat al begin wegtrek. Ant Meisie kom haastig aan met ? stomende koppie moerkoffie en 'n vetkoek in die ander hand. Die voorskooi is vol oliespatsels en die reuk van visolie hang nog om haar. Sy bly laat, die kleinkinders moet nog reggemaak word vir die skool. Op die bus gaan sit Lena langs haar ma soos sy nog die afgelope twee jaar gedoen het. “My laaste dag in die stoor,” dink sy by haarself. Twee jaar lank het sy gebid en uiteindelik het die Here 'n weg gemaak.
In die bus gesels mense kliphard, dis Vrydag en die pay is al vroeg vemôre in. Tussen die geraas in die bus hoor Lena 'n vrouestem saggies sing “ ... Al gaan dit opdraand, al gaan dit afdraand, biddend by die Here sal ek bly”. Oom Piet stop eers op die dorp. Die ry voor FNB is al klaar lank. Voor staan die skopper met een van daai groot wit banksakke, besig om geld te trek. Hy sit die geld in verskillende banksakkies. Dit is ondraaglik warm en die lyn raak al langer. “Mens kan ook ga solank wag nie. Die bus ry oor 'n uur. Ek moet nog my lay-buy loop kry,” dink Lena. Die kaartmasjiene werk ook nooit in die winkels nie.
“Daai jong trek weer al die mense se pay op,” praat 'n vrou twee mense voor Lena kliphard. Die man vat haar nie eers kop toe nie. Hy druk die laaste geld in 'n banksakkie en loop na sy bakkie toe. Mense begin om die bakkie saamdrom. Lena sien hoe hy die vrou met 'n baba op die arm 'n banksakkie gee met 'n R100-noot in. “Dê hiers jou change, jy het mos heel fortnite kom drank en vleis haal.” 'n Mens kan sien sy kry skaam. Sy vat die banksakkie en loop heel verleë weg. “Gaan mamma nog vir my die skoolskoene koop,” vra die meisiekind wat op die sypaadjie sit. “Hei, voetsek! Daarsie tjeld vir skoene nie. Wat wil jy vreet? Kom ons loop,” sê haar ma.
Daar stoot 'n hartseer in Lena op. Die seer op daai meisiekind se gesig is iets wat sy self al in die spieël gesien het. Die man deel die ander banksakkies uit, klim in sy bakkie en ry weg. “Die jong is kak skelm. Ek het dan net twee kanne wyn en 'n R200 gevat,” sê ’n oom met rooigrys baard vir sy vrou. “Dit is mos vyftig op 'n honderd rand. Ons gaan vat nie weer by hom nie.” Hy druk die banksakkie by sy kous in.
“So wil ons mense leef,” dink Lena by haarself, “mense werk net vir drank en vleisskulde en die skopper sit met die bankkaart, ID en Sassa-kaart.”
“Jy moet jou lay-buy loop haal by Ackermans, my kind. Ons moet jou goed regkry.”
“Ja Mamma, ek loop nou. Koop solank vir ons 'n stukkie vis en 'n two-piece vir Pappa.”
Terwyl Lena Hoofstraat afloop, sien sy hoe die mense rondhardloop om hul goed gedoen te kry. Niemand het lus om op 'n Saterdag dorp toe te kom nie. Dis al R50 op en af, en met 'n vyftig kan daar iets anders gedoen word. Die straat is besig, oorkant die straat waar die ou spoorlyn nog lê, staan 'n Slamse vrugtesmous, ’n jong klong seker nog nie vyftien nie, staan en skree: “Lekka lekka druiwe, waatlemoen en spanspek!. Hies hulle nou, ma!” Seker een van daai Kaapse klonge, die hande alewig voor by die broek ingedruk.
Op die sypaadjie kan sy skaars loop, want die Zimbabwiese vroue vat dit sommer vir hulle. Die slippers en fake Adidas en Nike skiepers lê die hele sypaadjie vol. Daar is bakke en emmers uitgepak. Mamma sê mens kan die goed goedkoop kry in die Baai. Lena kry haar lay-buy en loop terug na die viswinkel waar sy haar ma gelos het. Oom Piet sit al klaar agter die stuurwiel. Die oom bly haastig.
Dit is bedompig in die bus, daar hang 'n reuk van gebakte hoender, vis en wyn. Stink wyn, rooiproppiewyn. Ant Meisie is die laaste een wat op die bus klim. Onder die een arm het sy twee party packets en in die ander hand hou sy 'n sak five bob chips. “Sien jy hier, Lena. Daai klogoed wag nou daar by die huis vir iets lekker. Teen Sondag is die sak chips opgevreet. Dan loop en soek hulle weer heel Godse dag rante en twee rante.”
Ant Meisie maak ook haar kleinkinders alleen groot. Die klogoed se ma het ook seep loop koop. Mamma sê sy het gaan werk soek in die Baai en nooit weer teruggekom nie. Mense dink mos in hierdie Kloof is daar net twee opsies: of jy loop werk op die plase of jy gaan dorpe toe om werk te soek. Maar sy wat Lena is, weet daar is 'n derde opsie. En baie kinders hier rond het dit al bewys.
Die mense in die bus is gesellig en vir 'n kort rukkie word daar vergeet van hul probleme. Dit is naweek en dit is 'n natweek. Saterdagoggend skrik Lena wakker deur die geskel van haar pa. “Waar is my donnerse geld, Baby? Ek moet die bhuti se geld loop betaal.”
“Ag jirre Karel, moet jy dan so wees? Jy moet alewig loop en skulde betaal. Wat wil jy die fortnite eet? Jy weet die kind moet môre op die taxi klim. Watter soort pa is jy dan?
Lena kan die hartseer in haar ma se stem hoor. “Jong, moet net nie sam my staan en kak praat nie. Tjee net my donerse geld.” Dit raak stil in die kombuis en dan hoor sy hoe die voordeur hard toegekap word. Lena loop stadig in die rigting van die kombuis en sien hoe haar ma die trane afvee.
“Môre Mamma.”
“Môre my kind, het jy lekker geslaap? Jy moet jou sakke uit die kas haal ons moet dit vandag nog uitwas. Jy moet jou goed regkry.”Ek gaan nou Mamma. Laat ek net gou eers ? bietjie koffie maak.” Terwyl sy die ketel aansit, vra sy wat is Pappa weer so vroeg uit by die deur? Sy wil nie laat haar ma agterkom sy het alles gehoor nie.
“Aag! Jy weet hoe is jou pa.”
Lena maak vir haar koffie en ’n koppie tee vir haar ma. Sy sit die koppie langs haar ma neer en loop kamer toe. Vir 'n oomblik staan sy doodstil agter die toe deur. In dié kamer het sy twintig jaar lank gebly. Dis in dié kamer waar sy baie nagte gelê en luister het hoe haar pa aangaan en gehuil het. Dit is in die kamer waar sy laat nag gesit en leer het vir die eindeksamen. Dit is in die kamer waar sy gedroom het van 'n beter lewe vir haar en Mamma. Dit is in die kamer waar sy en mamma op hul knieë voor die Here gelê het. Lena haal die sakke uit die kas en gooi dit op die grond langs die bed neer.
Drie dae later sit sy op die UWK se kampus. Sy kom onderwys studeer. Lena gaan 'n Juffrou wees.
** The Langkloof is a 160 km long valley in South Africa in the George region
TRANSLATION
YOUTH MONTH: The University of the Western Cape's Communications and Marketing Department requested three of the best short stories originating from the Afrikaans Department. The stories are about the student and his or her environment, written in the dialect of their region. Alice Berries, a linguistics student shared her story.
"Man, if he wants to drive off, he should drive. You can see I'm still busy putting my apron on."
Lena looked at her mother wide-eyed. "Why is there a storm brewing with Mommy again this morning?"
"Man! Don't ask me a load of nonsense! Go and buy me some smoothies from the Somali and those sugary sweets that the youngsters eat here."
"Which sugar candies, Mommy? Half moons?”
"YES!"
Lena takes the money from her mother's hand, sees how tired her mother looks. Dad was drunk again last night, started drinking early in the morning. The smell of marijuana and buttons (mandrax tablets) wafted in ahead of him when he stepped in at the front door.
Mum didn't say anything otherwise it would have been war again.
One can see it is summer in the Kloof. It is going to be hot today, she can feel it. This time of year the Kloof gets terribly hot. “I wonder how many degrees it will be today? I can't even look at my phone, the signal is gone again", she thought angrily. The rumble of the tractors watering the trees can be heard far away in the orchards. If you look over the shiny roofs, you can see them in the Du Toits' orchards over there. They actually own farms from the Bo-Kloof to the Onder-Kloof.
As she got closer to the shop she saw that the gate was still closed. "Can't these stupid people open the shop? I don't like buying through the gate like that," she talks to herself.
“Morning Abdul, why is the gate still closed? You know people buy in the morning!"
“Why are you making a fuss so early? What are you looking for?
While Lena was waiting, a child appeared that looked as if he just appeared from a cage. The sleep is still in the eyes, barefoot, dirty, and crumpled. It looks as if the child just got out of bed with the clothes he was playing in from the day before. The ten rand in his hand looks like him, dirty and crumpled. Abdul gives the sweets and as she walks away she hears the child ask for "half a loaf and two five bob chips".
Her mother, Aunt Baby, is slowly arriving.
"Come on Mom, we have to walk faster; uncle Piet doesn't like to wait. Now that this Piet guy drives the bus, he thinks he is very important. Thinks the bus belongs to him.
Did Mamme (Mommy) hear what Klonkies and Ismail of oerle (the late) aunt Marie did? They broke into the church over there. The wires have been stolen, pastor is believed to have gone with the policemen to Uncle Piet's house."
"Now what did the kids want to do with the wires?"
"Probably take out the copper wires, as they always do. I hear Pappe (Father) also goes to the bhuti where they trade the wires for tik (crystal meth). This is where he goes to make debt in return for his green tobacco (marijuana). That bhuti can go back to wherever he comes from; people come from far away to make our homes miserable."
"The Lord will have to step in," says aunt Baby. "Ismail has changed drastically. The late Marie would have turned in her grave if she had to know what kind of person he is today. He was such a decent child when Marie was still alive."
"Klonkies is not a bad child either, Mamme. He has always been very smart at school. It's the tik that makes him that way."
In Church Street people are bustling on their way to work. Everyone is in a hurry. At the bottom of the tarmac are the various farms' modes of transport. Lorries, buses, and tractors. Some of the men hang like birds from branches on the overcrowded lorries. Tractor wagons are packed with the men and women on their way to the orchards. The women's faces are smeared yellow to prevent the sting of the Langkloof sun. Mamme says the red stone is also good for sunburn. Regular sunscreen is hopelessly too expensive for a farm worker's wage.
Uncle Jan is still standing with a twak pill (tabacco joint) in his mouth. He draws on it one last time before he kills it and puts it in his jacket pocket. He jumps on the lorry which is already starting to pull away. Aunt Meisie arrives in a hurry with a steaming cup of coffee in one hand and a vetkoek (bread made from fried dough) in the other hand. Her apron is full of oil splatter and the smell of fish oil still hangs around her. She is always running late, she has to see to see to the grandchildren who still have to get ready for school. On the bus, Lena sat next to her mother as she had done for the past two years. "My last day in storage," she thought to herself. For two years she prayed and finally the Lord made a way.
On the bus, people talk loudly. It's Friday and the pay will be paid in (into labourers’ bank accounts) early tomorrow morning. Between the noise in the bus, Lena heard a woman's voice softly singing, “Even if it goes uphill, even if it goes downhill, praying to the Lord is what I will do."
Uncle Piet first stops in town. The line in front of FNB is already long. In front of the line is the money lender (“die skopper”) with one of those big white bank bags, withdrawing money. He puts the money in different bank bags. It is unbearably hot and the line is getting longer. "You can't just wait. The bus leaves in an hour. I still have to get my lay-buy," thought Lena. The card machines never work in the stores either.
"That man is withdrawing all the people's pay again," a woman two people ahead of Lena commented loudly. The man doesn't even pay attention to her. He shoves the last money into a bank bag and walks to his bakkie. People begin to gather around the bakkie. Lena sees how he gives the woman with a baby on her arm a bank bag with a R100 note in it. "Here's your change, you've been coming for wine and meat the whole fortnight." One can see she is embarrassed. She takes the bank bag and walks away very embarrassed. "Is mom still going to buy me the school shoes," asked the girl sitting on the sidewalk. “Hey, voertsjek (buzz off)! There is no money for shoes. What do you want to eat? Let's go," said her mother.
A sadness wells up in Lena. The hurt on that girl's face is something she herself has seen in the mirror. The man hands out the other bank bags, gets into his bakkie and drives off.
"That scoundrel is a shitty sly. I only took two (large) bottles of wine and R200," says an uncle with a reddish-grey beard to his wife. "It's about fifty on a hundred rand. We are not going to him again." He stuffed the bank bag into his stocking.
"This is how our people want to live," Lena thought to herself, "people only work for wine and meat and debt. The money lender sits with the bank card, ID, and Sassa card."
"You must collect your lay-buy from Ackermans, my child. We have to get your stuff sorted."
"Yes, Mom, I'm leaving now. In the meantime, buy us a piece of fish and a two-piece for Pappe."
As Lena walks down Main Street, she sees the people running around to get their things done. No one feels like coming to town on a Saturday. It's already R50 up and down, and that fifty rands could have gone for something more essential. The street is busy. Opposite the street where the old railway line still lies, a moslem fruit peddler, a youngster probably not yet fifteen, stands and shouts: "Lekka lekka grapes, watermelon, and melon! Have them now, Mom!” Probably one of those Cape boys with his hands stuck in the front of his pants.
She can barely walk on the pavement, because the Zimbabwean women take over. The flip-flops and fake Adidas and Nike shoes litter the entire sidewalk. There are bowls and buckets unpacked. Mum says you can get the stuff cheap in the Bay. Lena gets her lay-buy and walks back to the fish shop where she left her mother. Uncle Piet is already sitting behind the steering wheel. The uncle is always in a hurry.
It is stuffy inside the bus, there is a smell of fried chicken, fish, and wine. Stinky wine, red wine. Ant Meisie is the last one to get on the bus. Under one arm she has two party packets and in the other hand she holds a bag of five bob chips. "You see here, Lena. Those kids are now waiting at home for something nice. By Sunday, the bag of chips would be devoured. Then they walk around looking for rands and two rand pieces all day, every God-given day."
Ant Meisie raises her grandchildren alone. The children's mother went to buy soap (an expression meaning the mother deserted her children).
Mamme says she went to look for work in the Bay and never came back. People think that in this Kloof there are only two options: either you work on the farms or you go to the towns to look for work. But being Lena, she knows there is a third option. And many kids around here have already proven it.
The people on the bus are sociable and for a short while their problems are forgotten. It's the weekend and it's a wet week (pay week).
On Saturday morning, Lena was startled awake by her father's scolding. “Where's my damn money, Baby? I have to pay the Bhuti's money."
"Ah jeez Karel, do you have to be like this then? Do you have to go and make debt wherever you go? What do you want to eat this fortnight? You know the child has to get on a taxi tomorrow. What kind of father are you?
Lena can hear the sadness in her mother's voice. "Man, don’t stand there and talk shit to me. Just give me the money."
It gets quiet in the kitchen and then she hears the front door being slammed shut. Lena walks slowly towards the kitchen and sees her mother wiping away the tears.
"Good morning, Mom."
"Morning my child, did you sleep well? You have to take your bags out of the closet, we have to wash them today. You have to get your things in order." I'm going now Mom. Let me make some coffee first." As she puts the kettle on, she asks why Daddy is out the door so early again? She doesn't want to let her mother know she heard everything.
“Aw! You know how your father is."
Lena makes coffee for herself and a cup of tea for her mother. She puts the cup down next to her mother and walks to the room. For a moment she stood dead still behind the closed door. She stayed in this room for twenty years. It's in this room where she spent many nights listening to her father ranting. And cried. It is in the same room where she sat late at night studying for the final exam. It is in this room where she dreamed of a better life for her and Mom. It is in this room where she and mom were on their knees before the Lord. Lena took the bags out of the closet and threw them on the ground next to the bed.
Three days later, she is sitting at UWC campus. She came to study teaching. Lena is going to be a teacher.
** The Langkloof is a 160 km long valley in South Africa, lying between Herold, a small village northeast of George, and The Heights - just beyond Twee Riviere.
INYANGA YOLUTSHA: ISebe lezoNxibelelwano neNtengiso leYunivesithi yaseNtshona Koloni licele amabali amafutshane amathathu abalaseleyo aphuma kwiSebe lesiBhulu. Amabali angomfundi kunye nendawo ahlala kuyo, ebhalwe ngolwimi lwengingqi yabo. U-Alice Berries, umfundi wezifundo zeelwimi wabelana ngebali lakhe, elisuka kusiba lomntwana waseLangkloof.
“Yiza mama. Ibhasi izakuhamba!”
"Mntundini, xa efuna ukuqhuba makaqhube. Uyabona ndisaxakekile ndifaka ifaskoti."
ULena wajonga umama wakhe ewathe ntsho amehlo. "Kutheni kukho isqhwitha kumama kwakhona ngale ntsasa?"
"Mntundini! Ungandibuzi unobenani mna! Hamba uyondithengela iismoothies kwamaSomaliya neza lekese ezineswekile zityiwa ngabaselula."
"Eziphi iilekese ezineswekile, mama? Utsho ezi zikhangeleka njengesiqingatha seenyanga?"
"Ewe!"
ULena uthathe imali esandleni sikanina, unina ekhangeleka ediniwe. Utata uphinde wanxila phezolo, waphinda wasela ekuseni. Ivumba lentsangu neziyobisi lalivakala phambi kwakhe kumnyango wangaphambili.
Wathula umama akathetha, kungenjalo yayizakuphinda ibengumlo kwakhona.
Umntu unokuqaphela ukuba kusehlotyeni eKloof. Kuyavakala ukuba kuzakutshisa namhlanje. IKloof ibashushu kakhulu ngeli xesha lonyaka. “Ingaba azakuthini amaqondo obushuhsu namhlanje? Andikwazi nokuwajonga kumnxeba wam, inetwork iphinde yemka", wacinga enomsindo. Isandi somdumo weetrektara ezinkcenkceshela imithi wawuvakala kude kwiigadi zeziqhamo. Ukuba uphosa amehlo phezu kwamaphahla ezindlu amenyezelayo, ungazibona iitrektara kwiigadi zeziqhamo zaseDu Toits. Yayingabanikazi beefama ukusuka eBo-Kloof ukuya eOnder-Kloof.
Uthe xa esondela ngasevenkileni wabona ukuba isango lisavaliwe. "Ingaba aba bantu banyabileyo abanakuvula ivenkile? Andithandi ukuthenga ndingaphandle kwesango," uthetha yedwa.
“Molo Abdul, kutheni isango lisavaliwe? Uyazi abantu bayathenga kusasa!"
“Kutheni ungxola kwakusasa? Ufuna ntoni?
Ngelixa uLena wayelindile, kwavela umntwana owayebonakala ngathi uvela ekhetshini. Ubuthongo bubonakala emehlweni akhe, alunxibanga zihlangu, lumdaka kwaye lushwabene. Ingathi umntwana usanda kuphuma ebhedini enempahla ebedlala ngayo ngezolo. Ishumi leerandi esandleni sakhe lifana naye, limdaka kwaye lishwabene. UAbdul unika umthengi iilekese, wathi xa ehamba weva ilizwi lisithi,"Ihafu yelofu kunye neechips ezimbini zesheleni ezintlanu."
Umama wakhe, uMakazi uBaby, uyafika ehamba ngokucotha.
"Yiza mama, kufuneka sikhawuleze; umalume uPiet akathandi ukulinda. Lo mfo wakwaPiet ucinga ukuba ubaluleke kakhulu ngoku ngokuqhuba ibhasi. Ucinga ukuba yibhasi yakhe.”
Ingaba umama wayiva into eyenziwa nguKlonkies noIsmail kamakazi uMarie ongasekhoyo? Baqhekeze la cawe ikwela cala. Iingcingo zibiwe, kukholelwa ukuba umfundisi uhambe namapolisa ukuya kwaMalume uPiet.
"Ngoku abantwana bebefuna ukwenza ntoni ngeengcingo?"
“Mhlawumbi bebefuna ukuba ingcingo zekopa nanjengoko beqhele ukwenza, ndiva kusithiwa notata naye uya kulobhuti apho barhweba khona ngeengcingo zekopa babhatalwe ngetik. Kulapho athatha khona intsangu ngesikwelithi. Lo bhuti makaphindele apho avela khona; ngaba bantu basuka kude bazokusimoshela imizi yethu."
“Kuzakufuneka iNkosi ingenelele,” watsho umakazi uBaby. "U-Ismail utshintshile ngoku. Ungakhathazeka umoya kaMarie ongasekhoyo esemangcwabeni ukuba angambona into ayiyo ngoku. Wayengumntwana onesidima ngokuya umama wakhe uMarie wayesaphila."
"U-Klonkies akangomntwana mbi naye, mama. Ebesoloko ekrelekrele kakhulu esikolweni. Yitik emenza abeyile nto ayiyo."
Kwisitalato iChurch abantu bayaphithizela besiya emsebenzini. Wonke umntu ungxamile. Ngezantsi kwendlela yetha kukho iindlela kume kuyo iintlobo zezithuthi ezithutha abasebenzi. Zilori, iibhasi kunye neetrektara. Inxenye yamadoda ijinga njengeentaka kwiinqwelo zabasebenzi ezilayishe ngaphezu komlinganiselo. Izikhotshi zetrektara zigcwele ngamadoda nabafazi abasendleleni eya ezifama. Ubuso bala mabhinqa buqatywe tyheli ukuthintela ukuhlaba kwemitha yelanga laseLangkloof. Umama uthi imbola ebomvu nayo iyaqatywa kuthintelwe ukutshiswa lilanga. Imbola ebomvu ibiza kakhulu ayiwulingananga umvuzo womntu osebenza ezifama.
Umalume uJan usamile etshaya izoli. Utsala umsi wokugqibela phambi kokuba ayicime ayifake epokothweni yebhatyi. Utsibela ilori esele iqalisa ukusuka. Umakazi uMeisie ufika engxamile ephethe ikomityi yekofu ephunga ephethe igwinya kwelinye icala. Ifaskoti igcwele amafutha kwaye nevumba le fish oil lisavakala kuye. Usoloko efika mva, uqale alungiselele abazukulwana bakwazi ukuya esikolweni. Ebhasini, uLena wahlala ecaleni kukanina njengoko wayeqhele ukwenza njalo kwiminyaka emibini edlulileyo. “Lusuku lwam lokugqibela esitolo,” wazicingela. Emva kweminyaka emibini ethandaza ekugqibeleni iNkosi imphendule.
Ebhasini, abantu bathethela phezulu. KungoLwesihlanu kwaye umvuzo wabo uzakungena kwangentseni kwibhanki zabo ngomso. Phakathi kwengxolo eyayisebhasini, uLena weva ilizwi lomfazi ecula kamnandi, “Nokuba indlela iyenyuka, nokuba indlela iyehla, ndizakuthandaza uYehova.”
UMalume uPiet umise kuqala edolophini. Umngcelele wabantu abafole phambi kwe-FNB sele umde. Phambili kulo mngcelele kume umntu obolekisa ngemali ehamba ephethe ingxowa enkulu emhlophe yokugcina imali, ekhupha imali. Imali uyifaka kwiingxowa ezahlukeneyo zebhanki. Kushushu ngendlela enganyamezelekiyo kwaye nomngcelele uya ukhula. "Awukwazi kulinda. Ibhasi ihamba emva kweyure. Kusafuneka ndibhatale ilay-buy," wacinga njalo uLena. Oomatshini bamakhadi abasebenzi ezivenkileni.
“Umatshonisa uwukhupha wonke umvuzo wabantu abanamatyala kuye,” watsho ekhwaza omnye umfazi phambi kukaLena. Indoda engumatshonisa ayimhoyanga nokumhoya. Yafaka imali yokugqibela ebhegini yebhanki yahamba yaya kwiveni yayo. Abantu baqalisa ukuhlanganisana bejikeleza iveni. ULena ubona indlela anika ngayo umfazi onomntwana ibhegi yebhanki enephepha le-R100. "Nantsi ke itshintshi yakho, ubuzele iwayini nenyama yonke le fortnite." Kwakubonakala ukuba loo mntu udanile. Uthatha ibhegi yebhanki aze ahambe eneentloni. “Ingaba umama useza kundithengela izihlangu zesikolo,” yabuza intombazana eyayihleli ecaleni kwendlela. “Heyi, vala lo mlomo! Akukho mali yezihlangu. Ingaba ufuna ukutya ntoni? Masihambe,” watsho umama wakhe.
Wayekhathazekile uLena. Intlungu ebonakala ebusweni baloo ntombazana yinto ewayeyibone isenzeka kuye emi phambi kwesipili. Indoda engumatshonisa ikhupha ezinye iibhegi zebhanki, ingene kwiveni yayo iyiqhube.
“Loo tsotsi uliqili, ndithathe iibhotile ezimbini ezinkulu zewayini ne-R200 kuphela,” utsho umalume onentshebe ebomvu nengwevu ebhekisa kwinkosikazi yakhe. "Uthathe amashumi amahlanu kwikhulu leerandi. Asiphindi siye kuye kwakhona." Wahlohla ibhegi yebhanki kwikawusi yakhe.
"Le yindlela abantu bethu abafuna ukuphila ngayo," uLena wazicingela, "abantu basebenzela iwayini kuphela kunye nenyama kunye namatyala. Umbolekisi wemali uhlala nekhadi lebhanki, isazisi kunye nekhadi likaSassa."
"Funeka uqokelele ilay-buy yakho kwa-Ackermans, mntwana wam. Kufuneka silungise izinto zakho."
"Ewe mama, ndiyahamba ngoku. Okwangoku, sithengele intlanzi encinci kunye nezityana ezibini zepapa."
Njengoko uLena esihla ngeSitrato esikhulu, ubona abantu besenza izinto ngokungxama kuba akukho mntu ufuna ukuza edolophini ngoMgqibelo. Sele iyiR50 ukunyuka nokuhla, kwaye ngamashumi amahlanu eerandi ngethenge enye into ebaluleke kakhulu. Kuyaphithizela esitratweni abantu baxakekile. Kwelinye icala ngakwesi sitrato ecaleni komgaqo kaloliwe omdala, kukho umthengisi weziqhamo oliMoslem, usemncinci kunokwenzeka ukuba akakabinalo neshumi elinesihlanu leminyaka, umile uyakhwaza: "Lekka lekka grapes, watermelon and melon! Yiba nazo ngoku, mama!" Mhlawumbi ngomnye waba bafana baseKapa basoloko befake izandla kwicala elingaphambili ebhlukhweni.
Kunzima ukuhamba kwiphevimente, ngenxa yabafazi baseZimbabwe abathengisayo. Iiflophu kunye nezihlangu zomgunyathi ze-Adidas kunye neNike zigcwele indledlana yonke. Kukho izitya kunye nee-emele ezingapakishwanga kakuhle. Umama uthi ungazifumana izinto ngexabiso eliphantsi eBhayi. ULena ufumene ilay-buy yakhe uhamba ebuyela kwivenkile ethengisa intlanzi apho wayeshiye khona umama wakhe. UMalume uPiet selungele ukuqhuba ahambe. Umalume uPiet usoloko engxamile.
Kuyanuka ebhasini, kuvakala ivumba lenkukhu eqhotsiweyo, intlanzi kunye newayini. Iwayini enukayo, iwayini ebomvu. UAnti Meisie ngowokugqibela ukungena ebhasini. Phantsi kwengalo yakhe ufake iipakethi ezimbini zepati kwaye kwelinye icala uphethe ibhegi yee-bob chips ezintlanu. "Uyabona ke, Lena. Aba bantwana ngoku balindele into emnandi endiza nayo. NgeCawe, ingxowa yeechips izakube iphelile. Bazakuhamba-hamba bekhangela irandi neerandi ezimbini imini yonke, yonke le mihla kaThixo."
UAnti Meisie naye ukhulisa abazukulwana bakhe yedwa. Umama wabantwana wabashiya kuye. Umama uthi wayofuna umsebenzi eBhayi akaphinda abuye. Abantu bacinga ukuba kule Kloof kukho iindlela ezimbini zokuphila: umntu ukhetha ukusebenza ezifama okanye ayekufuna umsebenzi ezidolophini. Kodwa yena uLena, uqaphele ukuba ikhona nendlela yesithathu umntu anokuphila ngayo. Abantwana abaninzi apha sebeyibonisile.
Abantu abasebhasini bonwabile okwethutyana zibekwe kwelokulibala iingxaki zabo. Yimpela veki, yile veki bapeya ngayo. Ngentsasa yangoMgqibelo, uLena wothuswa yingxolo katata wakhe. “Iphi imali yam, Baby? Kufuneka ndibhatale imali kaBhuti."
"Yesess marn! Karel kufuneka ubenje ngoku? Uhamba usenza amatyala naphi na apho uhamba khona? Ufuna ukutya ntoni kule fortnite? Uyayazi umntwana funeka akhwele iteksi ngomso. Yhini le! Ungutata onjani?
ULena weva unina ethetha kalusizi. "Yhe mntundini! Ungakulinge undixelele ububhanxa mna, ndinike imali."
Kuye kwathi cwaka ekhitshini emva koko weva ukuba ucango lwangaphambili luvalwa. ULena wachwechwa esiya ekhitshini wabona umama wakhe esosula iinyembezi.
"Molo, Mama."
"Molo mntanam, ulale kakuhle? Funeka ukhuphe iibhegi zakho kuloo kamile, kufuneka sizihlambe namhlanje. Kufuneka ulungise izinto zakho." Ndiyahamba ngoku mama. Khawuyeke ndenze ikofu kuqala." Njengoko ebeka iketile, wabuza ukuba kutheni utata ephuma phandle ekuseni? Wayengafuni umama wakhe ayazi ukuba unolwazi ngokwenzekileyo.
“Owu! Uyamazi utata wakho ukuba unjani."
ULena uzenzele ikomityi yekofu wenzela nomama wakhe ikomityi yeti. Wabeka ikomityi yeti ecaleni kukamama wakhe waya egumbini lakhe. Wavala ucango wema umzuzwana emva kwalo wathula wathi cwaka. Wahlala kweli gumbi iminyaka engamashumi amabini. Kukweli gumbi apho wayechitha ubusuku obuninzi ephulaphule uyise engxola. Uye wakhala. Kukwakweli gumbi apho wayechitha ubusuku efundela uviwo lokugqibela. Kukweli gumbi apho wayephupha ubomi obungcono yena nomama wakhe. Kukweli gumbi apho yena nomama babeguqe ngamadolo phambi kweNkosi. ULena wakhupha iibhegi kwigunjana lakhe waziphosa phantsi ecaleni kwebhedi.
Kwiintsuku ezintathu emva koko uhleli kwikhampasi yase-UWC. Weza kufundela ubutitshala. ULena uzakuba ngutitshala.
** ILangkloof yingxingwa eyi-160 km ubude eMzantsi Afrika, ilele phakathi kweHerold, ilali encinci kumntla-mpuma weGeorge, kunye neThe Heights - ngaphaya kweTwee Riviere.
Uit die pen van ‘n Langkloof-kind
“Kom mamma. Die bus gaan ons wegry!”“Jong as hy wil ry, moet hy maar ry. Jy kan mos sien ek is nog besig om my voorskooi aan te trek.”
Lena kyk haar ma grootoog aan. “Vir wat is Mamma weer ve’oggend so vol storms?”
“Jong! moenie vir my staan twak vra nie! Loop koop daar by die Somaliër vir my smoothies en daai suikerlekkers wat die klogoed so loop eet hier.”
“Watse suikerlekkers, Mamma? Halfmoons?”
“JAA!”
Lena vat die geld uit haar ma se hand, sien hoe moeg haar ma lyk. Pappa was weer gesyp gistraand, het vroegdag al begin drink. Die reuk van dagga en buttons het sommer so voor hom by die voordeur ingewalm. Mamma het maar niks gesê nie anders was dit weer oorlog.
'n Mens kan sien dit is somer in die Kloof. Die son gaan steek vandag, sy kan dit voel. Hierdie tyd van die jaar raak die Kloof verskriklik warm. “Ek wonder hoeveel grade is dit vandag? Ek kan nie eers op my foon kyk nie, die signal is alweer weg”, dink sy vies. Die gedreun van die trekkers wat die bome natspuit kan ver gehoor word in die boorde. As jy so oor die blink dakkies kyk, kan jy hulle doer oorkant in die Du Toits se boorde sien. Hulle besit nou sowaar plase van die Bo-Kloof tot doer in die Onder-Kloof.
Soos sy nader aan die winkel kom sien sy die hek is nog toe. “Kan die donnerse mense nie die winkel oopmaak nie? Ek hou ga van so deur die hek koop nie,” praat sy met haarself.
“Môre Abdul, vir wat is die hek nog toe? Julle weet 'n mens koop in die oggend!”
“Hoekom jy raas so vroeg. Wat soek jy?”
“Gee twee rand se smoothies en drie rand se halfmoons. Jy vat net nie met jou vuil hande aan daai halfmoons nie. Julle hou nie was nie.” Abdul lag en skud net sy kop. “Jy Lena, jy moet ophou skel jy.”
Terwyl Lena wag kom daar 'n kind wat lyk asof hy nou net uit die kooi uit opgestaan het. Die slaap sit nog in die oë, kaalvoet, vuil en verkreukel. Dit lyk asof die kind netso in die kooi gaan klim het met die klere waarin hy gespeel het. Die tien rand in sy hand lyk soos hy, vuil en verkreukel. Abdul gee die lekkers en terwyl sy wegstap hoor sy die kind se “? halwe brood en twee five bob entjies”.
Haar ma, ant Baby, kom maar stadig aan.
“Kom Mamme, ons moet vinniger loop daai oom Piet hou nie van wag nie. Daai Piet hou hom verniet so windgat van hy ook nou kamstig die bus ry. Dink die bus hoort aan hom. Het Mamme gehoor wat het Klonkies en Ismail van oorle ant Marie gedoen? Hulle loop breek wragtig doer bo by die kerk in. Glo die drade gesteel, pastoor is glo met die poelieste tot daar by oom Piet se huis.”
“Nou wat wou die klogoed met die drade maak?”
“Seker maar die koper uithaal, soos wat hulle maar doen. Ek hoor Pappe loop ook by daai boetie waar hulle die drade loop en ingee vir tik. Dit is waar hy sy so loop en skuld maak vir sy groen twak. Daardie mannetjie kan gerus teruggaan waar hy ook al vandaan kom, die mense kom doer van ver om ons huise ongelukkig te maak.”
“Die Here sal moet intree in die plek,” sê ant Baby. “Ismail is ook nou uitgedraai soos plaasbotter, oorle Marie draai in haar graf om as sy moet weet water soort van 'n mens hy nou is. Hy was so ordentlike kind toe Marie nog geleef het.”
“Klonkies is ook nie 'n slegte kind nie, Mamma. Hy was nog altyd baie slim op skool. Dit is die tik wat hom so maak.”
In Kerkstraat is 'n gewemel van mense op pad werk toe. Almal is haastig. Onder teen die teerpad staan die verskillende plase se rygoed. Dis lorries, busse en trekkers. Van die manne hang soos voëls aan takke aan die oorvol lorries. Trekkerwaens is volgepak van die mans en vroue op pad boorde toe. Die vroue se gesigte is geel gesmeer om die steek van die Langkloof son te verhoed. Mamma sê die rooi klip is ook goed vir sonbrand. Daai sonroom is hopeloos te duur vir 'n plaaswerkersloon.
Oom Jan staan nog met 'n twakpil in die mond. Hy trek sy laaste skyf voor hy dit doodmaak en in sy baadjie sak druk en op 'n lorrie spring wat al begin wegtrek. Ant Meisie kom haastig aan met ? stomende koppie moerkoffie en 'n vetkoek in die ander hand. Die voorskooi is vol oliespatsels en die reuk van visolie hang nog om haar. Sy bly laat, die kleinkinders moet nog reggemaak word vir die skool. Op die bus gaan sit Lena langs haar ma soos sy nog die afgelope twee jaar gedoen het. “My laaste dag in die stoor,” dink sy by haarself. Twee jaar lank het sy gebid en uiteindelik het die Here 'n weg gemaak.
In die bus gesels mense kliphard, dis Vrydag en die pay is al vroeg vemôre in. Tussen die geraas in die bus hoor Lena 'n vrouestem saggies sing “ ... Al gaan dit opdraand, al gaan dit afdraand, biddend by die Here sal ek bly”. Oom Piet stop eers op die dorp. Die ry voor FNB is al klaar lank. Voor staan die skopper met een van daai groot wit banksakke, besig om geld te trek. Hy sit die geld in verskillende banksakkies. Dit is ondraaglik warm en die lyn raak al langer. “Mens kan ook ga solank wag nie. Die bus ry oor 'n uur. Ek moet nog my lay-buy loop kry,” dink Lena. Die kaartmasjiene werk ook nooit in die winkels nie.
“Daai jong trek weer al die mense se pay op,” praat 'n vrou twee mense voor Lena kliphard. Die man vat haar nie eers kop toe nie. Hy druk die laaste geld in 'n banksakkie en loop na sy bakkie toe. Mense begin om die bakkie saamdrom. Lena sien hoe hy die vrou met 'n baba op die arm 'n banksakkie gee met 'n R100-noot in. “Dê hiers jou change, jy het mos heel fortnite kom drank en vleis haal.” 'n Mens kan sien sy kry skaam. Sy vat die banksakkie en loop heel verleë weg. “Gaan mamma nog vir my die skoolskoene koop,” vra die meisiekind wat op die sypaadjie sit. “Hei, voetsek! Daarsie tjeld vir skoene nie. Wat wil jy vreet? Kom ons loop,” sê haar ma.
Daar stoot 'n hartseer in Lena op. Die seer op daai meisiekind se gesig is iets wat sy self al in die spieël gesien het. Die man deel die ander banksakkies uit, klim in sy bakkie en ry weg. “Die jong is kak skelm. Ek het dan net twee kanne wyn en 'n R200 gevat,” sê ’n oom met rooigrys baard vir sy vrou. “Dit is mos vyftig op 'n honderd rand. Ons gaan vat nie weer by hom nie.” Hy druk die banksakkie by sy kous in.
“So wil ons mense leef,” dink Lena by haarself, “mense werk net vir drank en vleisskulde en die skopper sit met die bankkaart, ID en Sassa-kaart.”
“Jy moet jou lay-buy loop haal by Ackermans, my kind. Ons moet jou goed regkry.”
“Ja Mamma, ek loop nou. Koop solank vir ons 'n stukkie vis en 'n two-piece vir Pappa.”
Terwyl Lena Hoofstraat afloop, sien sy hoe die mense rondhardloop om hul goed gedoen te kry. Niemand het lus om op 'n Saterdag dorp toe te kom nie. Dis al R50 op en af, en met 'n vyftig kan daar iets anders gedoen word. Die straat is besig, oorkant die straat waar die ou spoorlyn nog lê, staan 'n Slamse vrugtesmous, ’n jong klong seker nog nie vyftien nie, staan en skree: “Lekka lekka druiwe, waatlemoen en spanspek!. Hies hulle nou, ma!” Seker een van daai Kaapse klonge, die hande alewig voor by die broek ingedruk.
Op die sypaadjie kan sy skaars loop, want die Zimbabwiese vroue vat dit sommer vir hulle. Die slippers en fake Adidas en Nike skiepers lê die hele sypaadjie vol. Daar is bakke en emmers uitgepak. Mamma sê mens kan die goed goedkoop kry in die Baai. Lena kry haar lay-buy en loop terug na die viswinkel waar sy haar ma gelos het. Oom Piet sit al klaar agter die stuurwiel. Die oom bly haastig.
Dit is bedompig in die bus, daar hang 'n reuk van gebakte hoender, vis en wyn. Stink wyn, rooiproppiewyn. Ant Meisie is die laaste een wat op die bus klim. Onder die een arm het sy twee party packets en in die ander hand hou sy 'n sak five bob chips. “Sien jy hier, Lena. Daai klogoed wag nou daar by die huis vir iets lekker. Teen Sondag is die sak chips opgevreet. Dan loop en soek hulle weer heel Godse dag rante en twee rante.”
Ant Meisie maak ook haar kleinkinders alleen groot. Die klogoed se ma het ook seep loop koop. Mamma sê sy het gaan werk soek in die Baai en nooit weer teruggekom nie. Mense dink mos in hierdie Kloof is daar net twee opsies: of jy loop werk op die plase of jy gaan dorpe toe om werk te soek. Maar sy wat Lena is, weet daar is 'n derde opsie. En baie kinders hier rond het dit al bewys.
Die mense in die bus is gesellig en vir 'n kort rukkie word daar vergeet van hul probleme. Dit is naweek en dit is 'n natweek. Saterdagoggend skrik Lena wakker deur die geskel van haar pa. “Waar is my donnerse geld, Baby? Ek moet die bhuti se geld loop betaal.”
“Ag jirre Karel, moet jy dan so wees? Jy moet alewig loop en skulde betaal. Wat wil jy die fortnite eet? Jy weet die kind moet môre op die taxi klim. Watter soort pa is jy dan?
Lena kan die hartseer in haar ma se stem hoor. “Jong, moet net nie sam my staan en kak praat nie. Tjee net my donerse geld.” Dit raak stil in die kombuis en dan hoor sy hoe die voordeur hard toegekap word. Lena loop stadig in die rigting van die kombuis en sien hoe haar ma die trane afvee.
“Môre Mamma.”
“Môre my kind, het jy lekker geslaap? Jy moet jou sakke uit die kas haal ons moet dit vandag nog uitwas. Jy moet jou goed regkry.”Ek gaan nou Mamma. Laat ek net gou eers ? bietjie koffie maak.” Terwyl sy die ketel aansit, vra sy wat is Pappa weer so vroeg uit by die deur? Sy wil nie laat haar ma agterkom sy het alles gehoor nie.
“Aag! Jy weet hoe is jou pa.”
Lena maak vir haar koffie en ’n koppie tee vir haar ma. Sy sit die koppie langs haar ma neer en loop kamer toe. Vir 'n oomblik staan sy doodstil agter die toe deur. In dié kamer het sy twintig jaar lank gebly. Dis in dié kamer waar sy baie nagte gelê en luister het hoe haar pa aangaan en gehuil het. Dit is in die kamer waar sy laat nag gesit en leer het vir die eindeksamen. Dit is in die kamer waar sy gedroom het van 'n beter lewe vir haar en Mamma. Dit is in die kamer waar sy en mamma op hul knieë voor die Here gelê het. Lena haal die sakke uit die kas en gooi dit op die grond langs die bed neer.
Drie dae later sit sy op die UWK se kampus. Sy kom onderwys studeer. Lena gaan 'n Juffrou wees.
** The Langkloof is a 160 km long valley in South Africa in the George region
TRANSLATION
YOUTH MONTH: The University of the Western Cape's Communications and Marketing Department requested three of the best short stories originating from the Afrikaans Department. The stories are about the student and his or her environment, written in the dialect of their region. Alice Berries, a linguistics student shared her story.
From the pen of a child from the Langkloof
“Come on mom. The bus is going to drive off!”"Man, if he wants to drive off, he should drive. You can see I'm still busy putting my apron on."
Lena looked at her mother wide-eyed. "Why is there a storm brewing with Mommy again this morning?"
"Man! Don't ask me a load of nonsense! Go and buy me some smoothies from the Somali and those sugary sweets that the youngsters eat here."
"Which sugar candies, Mommy? Half moons?”
"YES!"
Lena takes the money from her mother's hand, sees how tired her mother looks. Dad was drunk again last night, started drinking early in the morning. The smell of marijuana and buttons (mandrax tablets) wafted in ahead of him when he stepped in at the front door.
Mum didn't say anything otherwise it would have been war again.
One can see it is summer in the Kloof. It is going to be hot today, she can feel it. This time of year the Kloof gets terribly hot. “I wonder how many degrees it will be today? I can't even look at my phone, the signal is gone again", she thought angrily. The rumble of the tractors watering the trees can be heard far away in the orchards. If you look over the shiny roofs, you can see them in the Du Toits' orchards over there. They actually own farms from the Bo-Kloof to the Onder-Kloof.
As she got closer to the shop she saw that the gate was still closed. "Can't these stupid people open the shop? I don't like buying through the gate like that," she talks to herself.
“Morning Abdul, why is the gate still closed? You know people buy in the morning!"
“Why are you making a fuss so early? What are you looking for?
While Lena was waiting, a child appeared that looked as if he just appeared from a cage. The sleep is still in the eyes, barefoot, dirty, and crumpled. It looks as if the child just got out of bed with the clothes he was playing in from the day before. The ten rand in his hand looks like him, dirty and crumpled. Abdul gives the sweets and as she walks away she hears the child ask for "half a loaf and two five bob chips".
Her mother, Aunt Baby, is slowly arriving.
"Come on Mom, we have to walk faster; uncle Piet doesn't like to wait. Now that this Piet guy drives the bus, he thinks he is very important. Thinks the bus belongs to him.
Did Mamme (Mommy) hear what Klonkies and Ismail of oerle (the late) aunt Marie did? They broke into the church over there. The wires have been stolen, pastor is believed to have gone with the policemen to Uncle Piet's house."
"Now what did the kids want to do with the wires?"
"Probably take out the copper wires, as they always do. I hear Pappe (Father) also goes to the bhuti where they trade the wires for tik (crystal meth). This is where he goes to make debt in return for his green tobacco (marijuana). That bhuti can go back to wherever he comes from; people come from far away to make our homes miserable."
"The Lord will have to step in," says aunt Baby. "Ismail has changed drastically. The late Marie would have turned in her grave if she had to know what kind of person he is today. He was such a decent child when Marie was still alive."
"Klonkies is not a bad child either, Mamme. He has always been very smart at school. It's the tik that makes him that way."
In Church Street people are bustling on their way to work. Everyone is in a hurry. At the bottom of the tarmac are the various farms' modes of transport. Lorries, buses, and tractors. Some of the men hang like birds from branches on the overcrowded lorries. Tractor wagons are packed with the men and women on their way to the orchards. The women's faces are smeared yellow to prevent the sting of the Langkloof sun. Mamme says the red stone is also good for sunburn. Regular sunscreen is hopelessly too expensive for a farm worker's wage.
Uncle Jan is still standing with a twak pill (tabacco joint) in his mouth. He draws on it one last time before he kills it and puts it in his jacket pocket. He jumps on the lorry which is already starting to pull away. Aunt Meisie arrives in a hurry with a steaming cup of coffee in one hand and a vetkoek (bread made from fried dough) in the other hand. Her apron is full of oil splatter and the smell of fish oil still hangs around her. She is always running late, she has to see to see to the grandchildren who still have to get ready for school. On the bus, Lena sat next to her mother as she had done for the past two years. "My last day in storage," she thought to herself. For two years she prayed and finally the Lord made a way.
On the bus, people talk loudly. It's Friday and the pay will be paid in (into labourers’ bank accounts) early tomorrow morning. Between the noise in the bus, Lena heard a woman's voice softly singing, “Even if it goes uphill, even if it goes downhill, praying to the Lord is what I will do."
Uncle Piet first stops in town. The line in front of FNB is already long. In front of the line is the money lender (“die skopper”) with one of those big white bank bags, withdrawing money. He puts the money in different bank bags. It is unbearably hot and the line is getting longer. "You can't just wait. The bus leaves in an hour. I still have to get my lay-buy," thought Lena. The card machines never work in the stores either.
"That man is withdrawing all the people's pay again," a woman two people ahead of Lena commented loudly. The man doesn't even pay attention to her. He shoves the last money into a bank bag and walks to his bakkie. People begin to gather around the bakkie. Lena sees how he gives the woman with a baby on her arm a bank bag with a R100 note in it. "Here's your change, you've been coming for wine and meat the whole fortnight." One can see she is embarrassed. She takes the bank bag and walks away very embarrassed. "Is mom still going to buy me the school shoes," asked the girl sitting on the sidewalk. “Hey, voertsjek (buzz off)! There is no money for shoes. What do you want to eat? Let's go," said her mother.
A sadness wells up in Lena. The hurt on that girl's face is something she herself has seen in the mirror. The man hands out the other bank bags, gets into his bakkie and drives off.
"That scoundrel is a shitty sly. I only took two (large) bottles of wine and R200," says an uncle with a reddish-grey beard to his wife. "It's about fifty on a hundred rand. We are not going to him again." He stuffed the bank bag into his stocking.
"This is how our people want to live," Lena thought to herself, "people only work for wine and meat and debt. The money lender sits with the bank card, ID, and Sassa card."
"You must collect your lay-buy from Ackermans, my child. We have to get your stuff sorted."
"Yes, Mom, I'm leaving now. In the meantime, buy us a piece of fish and a two-piece for Pappe."
As Lena walks down Main Street, she sees the people running around to get their things done. No one feels like coming to town on a Saturday. It's already R50 up and down, and that fifty rands could have gone for something more essential. The street is busy. Opposite the street where the old railway line still lies, a moslem fruit peddler, a youngster probably not yet fifteen, stands and shouts: "Lekka lekka grapes, watermelon, and melon! Have them now, Mom!” Probably one of those Cape boys with his hands stuck in the front of his pants.
She can barely walk on the pavement, because the Zimbabwean women take over. The flip-flops and fake Adidas and Nike shoes litter the entire sidewalk. There are bowls and buckets unpacked. Mum says you can get the stuff cheap in the Bay. Lena gets her lay-buy and walks back to the fish shop where she left her mother. Uncle Piet is already sitting behind the steering wheel. The uncle is always in a hurry.
It is stuffy inside the bus, there is a smell of fried chicken, fish, and wine. Stinky wine, red wine. Ant Meisie is the last one to get on the bus. Under one arm she has two party packets and in the other hand she holds a bag of five bob chips. "You see here, Lena. Those kids are now waiting at home for something nice. By Sunday, the bag of chips would be devoured. Then they walk around looking for rands and two rand pieces all day, every God-given day."
Ant Meisie raises her grandchildren alone. The children's mother went to buy soap (an expression meaning the mother deserted her children).
Mamme says she went to look for work in the Bay and never came back. People think that in this Kloof there are only two options: either you work on the farms or you go to the towns to look for work. But being Lena, she knows there is a third option. And many kids around here have already proven it.
The people on the bus are sociable and for a short while their problems are forgotten. It's the weekend and it's a wet week (pay week).
On Saturday morning, Lena was startled awake by her father's scolding. “Where's my damn money, Baby? I have to pay the Bhuti's money."
"Ah jeez Karel, do you have to be like this then? Do you have to go and make debt wherever you go? What do you want to eat this fortnight? You know the child has to get on a taxi tomorrow. What kind of father are you?
Lena can hear the sadness in her mother's voice. "Man, don’t stand there and talk shit to me. Just give me the money."
It gets quiet in the kitchen and then she hears the front door being slammed shut. Lena walks slowly towards the kitchen and sees her mother wiping away the tears.
"Good morning, Mom."
"Morning my child, did you sleep well? You have to take your bags out of the closet, we have to wash them today. You have to get your things in order." I'm going now Mom. Let me make some coffee first." As she puts the kettle on, she asks why Daddy is out the door so early again? She doesn't want to let her mother know she heard everything.
“Aw! You know how your father is."
Lena makes coffee for herself and a cup of tea for her mother. She puts the cup down next to her mother and walks to the room. For a moment she stood dead still behind the closed door. She stayed in this room for twenty years. It's in this room where she spent many nights listening to her father ranting. And cried. It is in the same room where she sat late at night studying for the final exam. It is in this room where she dreamed of a better life for her and Mom. It is in this room where she and mom were on their knees before the Lord. Lena took the bags out of the closet and threw them on the ground next to the bed.
Three days later, she is sitting at UWC campus. She came to study teaching. Lena is going to be a teacher.
** The Langkloof is a 160 km long valley in South Africa, lying between Herold, a small village northeast of George, and The Heights - just beyond Twee Riviere.
INYANGA YOLUTSHA: ISebe lezoNxibelelwano neNtengiso leYunivesithi yaseNtshona Koloni licele amabali amafutshane amathathu abalaseleyo aphuma kwiSebe lesiBhulu. Amabali angomfundi kunye nendawo ahlala kuyo, ebhalwe ngolwimi lwengingqi yabo. U-Alice Berries, umfundi wezifundo zeelwimi wabelana ngebali lakhe, elisuka kusiba lomntwana waseLangkloof.
“Yiza mama. Ibhasi izakuhamba!”
"Mntundini, xa efuna ukuqhuba makaqhube. Uyabona ndisaxakekile ndifaka ifaskoti."
ULena wajonga umama wakhe ewathe ntsho amehlo. "Kutheni kukho isqhwitha kumama kwakhona ngale ntsasa?"
"Mntundini! Ungandibuzi unobenani mna! Hamba uyondithengela iismoothies kwamaSomaliya neza lekese ezineswekile zityiwa ngabaselula."
"Eziphi iilekese ezineswekile, mama? Utsho ezi zikhangeleka njengesiqingatha seenyanga?"
"Ewe!"
ULena uthathe imali esandleni sikanina, unina ekhangeleka ediniwe. Utata uphinde wanxila phezolo, waphinda wasela ekuseni. Ivumba lentsangu neziyobisi lalivakala phambi kwakhe kumnyango wangaphambili.
Wathula umama akathetha, kungenjalo yayizakuphinda ibengumlo kwakhona.
Umntu unokuqaphela ukuba kusehlotyeni eKloof. Kuyavakala ukuba kuzakutshisa namhlanje. IKloof ibashushu kakhulu ngeli xesha lonyaka. “Ingaba azakuthini amaqondo obushuhsu namhlanje? Andikwazi nokuwajonga kumnxeba wam, inetwork iphinde yemka", wacinga enomsindo. Isandi somdumo weetrektara ezinkcenkceshela imithi wawuvakala kude kwiigadi zeziqhamo. Ukuba uphosa amehlo phezu kwamaphahla ezindlu amenyezelayo, ungazibona iitrektara kwiigadi zeziqhamo zaseDu Toits. Yayingabanikazi beefama ukusuka eBo-Kloof ukuya eOnder-Kloof.
Uthe xa esondela ngasevenkileni wabona ukuba isango lisavaliwe. "Ingaba aba bantu banyabileyo abanakuvula ivenkile? Andithandi ukuthenga ndingaphandle kwesango," uthetha yedwa.
“Molo Abdul, kutheni isango lisavaliwe? Uyazi abantu bayathenga kusasa!"
“Kutheni ungxola kwakusasa? Ufuna ntoni?
Ngelixa uLena wayelindile, kwavela umntwana owayebonakala ngathi uvela ekhetshini. Ubuthongo bubonakala emehlweni akhe, alunxibanga zihlangu, lumdaka kwaye lushwabene. Ingathi umntwana usanda kuphuma ebhedini enempahla ebedlala ngayo ngezolo. Ishumi leerandi esandleni sakhe lifana naye, limdaka kwaye lishwabene. UAbdul unika umthengi iilekese, wathi xa ehamba weva ilizwi lisithi,"Ihafu yelofu kunye neechips ezimbini zesheleni ezintlanu."
Umama wakhe, uMakazi uBaby, uyafika ehamba ngokucotha.
"Yiza mama, kufuneka sikhawuleze; umalume uPiet akathandi ukulinda. Lo mfo wakwaPiet ucinga ukuba ubaluleke kakhulu ngoku ngokuqhuba ibhasi. Ucinga ukuba yibhasi yakhe.”
Ingaba umama wayiva into eyenziwa nguKlonkies noIsmail kamakazi uMarie ongasekhoyo? Baqhekeze la cawe ikwela cala. Iingcingo zibiwe, kukholelwa ukuba umfundisi uhambe namapolisa ukuya kwaMalume uPiet.
"Ngoku abantwana bebefuna ukwenza ntoni ngeengcingo?"
“Mhlawumbi bebefuna ukuba ingcingo zekopa nanjengoko beqhele ukwenza, ndiva kusithiwa notata naye uya kulobhuti apho barhweba khona ngeengcingo zekopa babhatalwe ngetik. Kulapho athatha khona intsangu ngesikwelithi. Lo bhuti makaphindele apho avela khona; ngaba bantu basuka kude bazokusimoshela imizi yethu."
“Kuzakufuneka iNkosi ingenelele,” watsho umakazi uBaby. "U-Ismail utshintshile ngoku. Ungakhathazeka umoya kaMarie ongasekhoyo esemangcwabeni ukuba angambona into ayiyo ngoku. Wayengumntwana onesidima ngokuya umama wakhe uMarie wayesaphila."
"U-Klonkies akangomntwana mbi naye, mama. Ebesoloko ekrelekrele kakhulu esikolweni. Yitik emenza abeyile nto ayiyo."
Kwisitalato iChurch abantu bayaphithizela besiya emsebenzini. Wonke umntu ungxamile. Ngezantsi kwendlela yetha kukho iindlela kume kuyo iintlobo zezithuthi ezithutha abasebenzi. Zilori, iibhasi kunye neetrektara. Inxenye yamadoda ijinga njengeentaka kwiinqwelo zabasebenzi ezilayishe ngaphezu komlinganiselo. Izikhotshi zetrektara zigcwele ngamadoda nabafazi abasendleleni eya ezifama. Ubuso bala mabhinqa buqatywe tyheli ukuthintela ukuhlaba kwemitha yelanga laseLangkloof. Umama uthi imbola ebomvu nayo iyaqatywa kuthintelwe ukutshiswa lilanga. Imbola ebomvu ibiza kakhulu ayiwulingananga umvuzo womntu osebenza ezifama.
Umalume uJan usamile etshaya izoli. Utsala umsi wokugqibela phambi kokuba ayicime ayifake epokothweni yebhatyi. Utsibela ilori esele iqalisa ukusuka. Umakazi uMeisie ufika engxamile ephethe ikomityi yekofu ephunga ephethe igwinya kwelinye icala. Ifaskoti igcwele amafutha kwaye nevumba le fish oil lisavakala kuye. Usoloko efika mva, uqale alungiselele abazukulwana bakwazi ukuya esikolweni. Ebhasini, uLena wahlala ecaleni kukanina njengoko wayeqhele ukwenza njalo kwiminyaka emibini edlulileyo. “Lusuku lwam lokugqibela esitolo,” wazicingela. Emva kweminyaka emibini ethandaza ekugqibeleni iNkosi imphendule.
Ebhasini, abantu bathethela phezulu. KungoLwesihlanu kwaye umvuzo wabo uzakungena kwangentseni kwibhanki zabo ngomso. Phakathi kwengxolo eyayisebhasini, uLena weva ilizwi lomfazi ecula kamnandi, “Nokuba indlela iyenyuka, nokuba indlela iyehla, ndizakuthandaza uYehova.”
UMalume uPiet umise kuqala edolophini. Umngcelele wabantu abafole phambi kwe-FNB sele umde. Phambili kulo mngcelele kume umntu obolekisa ngemali ehamba ephethe ingxowa enkulu emhlophe yokugcina imali, ekhupha imali. Imali uyifaka kwiingxowa ezahlukeneyo zebhanki. Kushushu ngendlela enganyamezelekiyo kwaye nomngcelele uya ukhula. "Awukwazi kulinda. Ibhasi ihamba emva kweyure. Kusafuneka ndibhatale ilay-buy," wacinga njalo uLena. Oomatshini bamakhadi abasebenzi ezivenkileni.
“Umatshonisa uwukhupha wonke umvuzo wabantu abanamatyala kuye,” watsho ekhwaza omnye umfazi phambi kukaLena. Indoda engumatshonisa ayimhoyanga nokumhoya. Yafaka imali yokugqibela ebhegini yebhanki yahamba yaya kwiveni yayo. Abantu baqalisa ukuhlanganisana bejikeleza iveni. ULena ubona indlela anika ngayo umfazi onomntwana ibhegi yebhanki enephepha le-R100. "Nantsi ke itshintshi yakho, ubuzele iwayini nenyama yonke le fortnite." Kwakubonakala ukuba loo mntu udanile. Uthatha ibhegi yebhanki aze ahambe eneentloni. “Ingaba umama useza kundithengela izihlangu zesikolo,” yabuza intombazana eyayihleli ecaleni kwendlela. “Heyi, vala lo mlomo! Akukho mali yezihlangu. Ingaba ufuna ukutya ntoni? Masihambe,” watsho umama wakhe.
Wayekhathazekile uLena. Intlungu ebonakala ebusweni baloo ntombazana yinto ewayeyibone isenzeka kuye emi phambi kwesipili. Indoda engumatshonisa ikhupha ezinye iibhegi zebhanki, ingene kwiveni yayo iyiqhube.
“Loo tsotsi uliqili, ndithathe iibhotile ezimbini ezinkulu zewayini ne-R200 kuphela,” utsho umalume onentshebe ebomvu nengwevu ebhekisa kwinkosikazi yakhe. "Uthathe amashumi amahlanu kwikhulu leerandi. Asiphindi siye kuye kwakhona." Wahlohla ibhegi yebhanki kwikawusi yakhe.
"Le yindlela abantu bethu abafuna ukuphila ngayo," uLena wazicingela, "abantu basebenzela iwayini kuphela kunye nenyama kunye namatyala. Umbolekisi wemali uhlala nekhadi lebhanki, isazisi kunye nekhadi likaSassa."
"Funeka uqokelele ilay-buy yakho kwa-Ackermans, mntwana wam. Kufuneka silungise izinto zakho."
"Ewe mama, ndiyahamba ngoku. Okwangoku, sithengele intlanzi encinci kunye nezityana ezibini zepapa."
Njengoko uLena esihla ngeSitrato esikhulu, ubona abantu besenza izinto ngokungxama kuba akukho mntu ufuna ukuza edolophini ngoMgqibelo. Sele iyiR50 ukunyuka nokuhla, kwaye ngamashumi amahlanu eerandi ngethenge enye into ebaluleke kakhulu. Kuyaphithizela esitratweni abantu baxakekile. Kwelinye icala ngakwesi sitrato ecaleni komgaqo kaloliwe omdala, kukho umthengisi weziqhamo oliMoslem, usemncinci kunokwenzeka ukuba akakabinalo neshumi elinesihlanu leminyaka, umile uyakhwaza: "Lekka lekka grapes, watermelon and melon! Yiba nazo ngoku, mama!" Mhlawumbi ngomnye waba bafana baseKapa basoloko befake izandla kwicala elingaphambili ebhlukhweni.
Kunzima ukuhamba kwiphevimente, ngenxa yabafazi baseZimbabwe abathengisayo. Iiflophu kunye nezihlangu zomgunyathi ze-Adidas kunye neNike zigcwele indledlana yonke. Kukho izitya kunye nee-emele ezingapakishwanga kakuhle. Umama uthi ungazifumana izinto ngexabiso eliphantsi eBhayi. ULena ufumene ilay-buy yakhe uhamba ebuyela kwivenkile ethengisa intlanzi apho wayeshiye khona umama wakhe. UMalume uPiet selungele ukuqhuba ahambe. Umalume uPiet usoloko engxamile.
Kuyanuka ebhasini, kuvakala ivumba lenkukhu eqhotsiweyo, intlanzi kunye newayini. Iwayini enukayo, iwayini ebomvu. UAnti Meisie ngowokugqibela ukungena ebhasini. Phantsi kwengalo yakhe ufake iipakethi ezimbini zepati kwaye kwelinye icala uphethe ibhegi yee-bob chips ezintlanu. "Uyabona ke, Lena. Aba bantwana ngoku balindele into emnandi endiza nayo. NgeCawe, ingxowa yeechips izakube iphelile. Bazakuhamba-hamba bekhangela irandi neerandi ezimbini imini yonke, yonke le mihla kaThixo."
UAnti Meisie naye ukhulisa abazukulwana bakhe yedwa. Umama wabantwana wabashiya kuye. Umama uthi wayofuna umsebenzi eBhayi akaphinda abuye. Abantu bacinga ukuba kule Kloof kukho iindlela ezimbini zokuphila: umntu ukhetha ukusebenza ezifama okanye ayekufuna umsebenzi ezidolophini. Kodwa yena uLena, uqaphele ukuba ikhona nendlela yesithathu umntu anokuphila ngayo. Abantwana abaninzi apha sebeyibonisile.
Abantu abasebhasini bonwabile okwethutyana zibekwe kwelokulibala iingxaki zabo. Yimpela veki, yile veki bapeya ngayo. Ngentsasa yangoMgqibelo, uLena wothuswa yingxolo katata wakhe. “Iphi imali yam, Baby? Kufuneka ndibhatale imali kaBhuti."
"Yesess marn! Karel kufuneka ubenje ngoku? Uhamba usenza amatyala naphi na apho uhamba khona? Ufuna ukutya ntoni kule fortnite? Uyayazi umntwana funeka akhwele iteksi ngomso. Yhini le! Ungutata onjani?
ULena weva unina ethetha kalusizi. "Yhe mntundini! Ungakulinge undixelele ububhanxa mna, ndinike imali."
Kuye kwathi cwaka ekhitshini emva koko weva ukuba ucango lwangaphambili luvalwa. ULena wachwechwa esiya ekhitshini wabona umama wakhe esosula iinyembezi.
"Molo, Mama."
"Molo mntanam, ulale kakuhle? Funeka ukhuphe iibhegi zakho kuloo kamile, kufuneka sizihlambe namhlanje. Kufuneka ulungise izinto zakho." Ndiyahamba ngoku mama. Khawuyeke ndenze ikofu kuqala." Njengoko ebeka iketile, wabuza ukuba kutheni utata ephuma phandle ekuseni? Wayengafuni umama wakhe ayazi ukuba unolwazi ngokwenzekileyo.
“Owu! Uyamazi utata wakho ukuba unjani."
ULena uzenzele ikomityi yekofu wenzela nomama wakhe ikomityi yeti. Wabeka ikomityi yeti ecaleni kukamama wakhe waya egumbini lakhe. Wavala ucango wema umzuzwana emva kwalo wathula wathi cwaka. Wahlala kweli gumbi iminyaka engamashumi amabini. Kukweli gumbi apho wayechitha ubusuku obuninzi ephulaphule uyise engxola. Uye wakhala. Kukwakweli gumbi apho wayechitha ubusuku efundela uviwo lokugqibela. Kukweli gumbi apho wayephupha ubomi obungcono yena nomama wakhe. Kukweli gumbi apho yena nomama babeguqe ngamadolo phambi kweNkosi. ULena wakhupha iibhegi kwigunjana lakhe waziphosa phantsi ecaleni kwebhedi.
Kwiintsuku ezintathu emva koko uhleli kwikhampasi yase-UWC. Weza kufundela ubutitshala. ULena uzakuba ngutitshala.
** ILangkloof yingxingwa eyi-160 km ubude eMzantsi Afrika, ilele phakathi kweHerold, ilali encinci kumntla-mpuma weGeorge, kunye neThe Heights - ngaphaya kweTwee Riviere.
