UMnumzana Mvundla Uhlangana noMnumzana Mandela

Nanko uMnumzana Mvundla ethwethwa ephuma ekhayeni lakhe elisehlathini. Isibhakabhaka sasithe wambu ngombala waso ozuba. Ingca iluhlaza yaka. Imithi iman’ ukuvobela ngenxa yaloo mpepho imnandi. Ihlathi lalizaliswe yiloo ntsholo yeengoma zeentaka. Kodwa…

Uthe xa aphumayo wabona into angazanga wayibona ngaphambili ithe thaca apha ngasemnyango: irherheba elitsha kraca le-R200.

UMnumzana Mvundla wayithi hlasi le nto. “Wenzani apha uMnumzana Hlosi?” Wayiguqula kwelinye icala. “Tyhini! UMnumzana Mandela,” wakhuza ngelitshoyo.

Yayimana ilala iphinde ime nkqo indlebe yakhe yasekunxele lo gama akwezinzulu iingcinga. Waphosa amehlo phezulu kuNkosazana Nosiba owayechophe esebeni lomthi onameva, embukele.

“Nceda ubize intlanganiso yazo zonke izilwanyana,” watsho. “Ndinesaziso esibalulekileyo ekufuneka ndisibhengeze.”

Nanko ebhabha, ekhwaza, “Wonke umhlali uyafuneka embizweni, phantsi komthi woMkhomo, ngale ntsasa. Wonke umhlali uyafuneka embizweni …”

“Iyawayintoni ke ngoku?” wonke umntu wayemangalisiwe, kuthiwe nqwadalala kwakhiwe isangqa phantsi kwaloo mthi.

UMnumzana Mvundla wema embindini. Wathinta isikhohlela waza waqhuba wenjenje:

“Mzi wasehlathini, ndineendaba ezibaluleke kakhulu endinga ndingabelana ngazo nani. Le nto,” watsho ephakamisela phezulu irherheba le-R200, “ndiyibone ithe thaca phambi komnyango wam. Andiyazi ukuba iyintoni na okanye ithetha ntoni na, kodwa inobuso bukaMnumzana Mandela kuyo ngoko ke ndiqinisekile ukuba yeyakhe…”

“Bukho nje nobam ubuso apha kuyo,” utshilo uMnumzana Hlosi ngomvungamo wendlalo. “Ngoko ke mhlawumbi makube yeyam.”

Kwathi gquzu intsini wonke umntu ngaphandle kukaMnumzana Mvundla. Wayengacacelanga ziqhulo tu namhlanje.

“Ndiceba ukuya esixekweni ngawo lo mzuzu ukuze ndilibuyisele kuMnumzana Mandela eli phetshana libaluleke kangakanana.”

“Intoni?” kukhuza uMnumzana Nyathi, ngokothuka okukhulu. “Uyakulahleka uthi shu phaya.”

“Yintoni eza kundilahla?” kubuza uMnumzana Mvundla etyhale isifuba.

“Kaloku awukwazi ukufunda,” watsho uMnumzana Mkhombe, esalatha ngophondo lwakhe olutsolo kuMnumzana Mvundla.

“Hayi suka apha, yinkunkuma leyo!” ufuthele phezulu uMnumzana Mvundla.

“Heyi yinyani leyo,” kutsho uNkosikazi Ndlovu engqisha ngonyawo, umonde uphele tu. “KwiSixeko sabaFundayo wonke umntu uyakwazi ukufunda. Kwaye nabo bangekakwazi ukwenza oko, baphuhlisa ukufunda kwabo.”

“Ngoku ke, yintoni enokwenzeka kum?” ubuzile uMnumzana Mvundla.

UMnumzana Ngonyama uthe tancu ngaphambili, evuthulula ubuso bakhe, ephulula namabhovu akhe. “Abo bangakwaziyo ukufunda, bathe gqolo bephindaphinda iimpazamo zabo,” ugqume esitsho. “Nawe ke ngokuqinisekileyo uyakuba kwanjalo.”

“Ha!” uMnumzana Mvundla uthe qhuzu intsinana esileyo. “Hayi mna nokatana!” Ngaloo mazwi utsho enyantsula phantsi kuka Nkosikazi Ndlovu, engenalo nelincinci ixhala. Nanko egqadaza, eman’ ukuphepha izicithi esendleleni eya kwiSixeko sabaFundayo.

Kungekudala iqalisile ukuvakala intsholo yasesixekweni. Ube sele esithi thu esixekweni. Wayengazange wasibona isixeko ngaphambili.

Uthe krwaqu kubuso bukaMnumzana Hlosi kweli phetshana. Ibe ngathi buyamlumkisa, bumnqanda ukuba angaqhubekeki nohambo.

“Hayi ke, mna ndisisiLumkwana esiNcinane,” utshilo uMnumzana Mvundla. “Ndikrelekrele kunabo bonke abakhoyo kwiSixeko sabaFundayo.” Ngomtsi nje omnye olandelayo wabe sele esithi qakatha esixekweni.

Abantu bokuqala awababonayo yayingamakhwenkwana namantombazanyana ahamba isikolo. Babekhangeleka behlakaniphile kwezo yunifomu zizuba natyheli ababezinxibile. Babexwaye oobhaka, bexhakazela neencwadi.

“Molo, Mnumzana Mvundla!” babulise batsho.

“Ewe!” uphendule uMnumzana Mvundla ngokuzingca kuba esaziwa ukuba ungubani. Kodwa wathi xhungu, efuna ukwazi. “Naze njani ukuba ndim?” ubabuzile.

“Sifunde ngawe kwiincwadi zethu zamabali,” itshilo enye intombazana. “Malunga nendlela awakuqhatha ngayo uMnumzana Fudo kugqatso lweembaleki enaninalo.”

Bonke bamwa ngentsini. UMnumzana Mvundla, wabathi gxezu ngamehlo anomsindo waza waqhubeka nendlela yakhe.

Wabona abantu beleqa uloliwe, waza wangenelela kolo gxudululu. Umfo owayenxibe iyunifomu entle, eme ngaphaya kwekhawuntari, wolula isandla sakhe, ze wathi uMnumzana Mvundla, ephethe i-R200, “ndisendleleni eya kubona uMnumzana Mandela.”

Le ndoda yalithi xhwi eli rherheba phakathi kweentupha zake …

“Heyi!” ukhalaze ngelitshoyo uMnumzana Mvundla.

Le ndoda iye yadlulisela kuye irhehreba eliyi-R100.

UMnumzana Mvundla waliqwalaselisa irherheba elo apha ngaphakathi kuloliwe. “Ngoku lijike labazuba,” utshilo emangalisiwe. “Kwaye ngoku nguMnumzana Nyathi othathe indawo kaMnumzana Hlosi.” Walibhencabhenca eli rherheba. “Heke, uMnumzana Mandela usekhona.” Wakhupha umnqatha epokothweni yakhe waza wahlafuna ngolonwabo, ebuka ubuhle belizwe ngefestile.

“Jonga ke, Mnumzana Nyathi,” utshilo eqolozele kweli rherheba le-R100. “Nakubeni ndingakwaziyo ukufunda, ndisendleleni eya kwaMnumzana Mandela.”

“Uxolo, mhlekazi.”

UMnumzana Mvundla uphakamise amehlo wabona lo mfo unxibe iyunifomu ezuba. “Akuvumelekanga ukuba ungatya apha kuloliwe. Awuyiboni laa nto?” Wakhomba ibhodi exhonywe entla kweendlebe zikaMnumzana Mvundla enombhalo ofundeka ngolu hlobo:

NCEDA MUSA UKUTYA KULOLIWE

“O,” utshilo uMnumzana Mvundla, eqhusheka ihafu yomnqatha epokothweni.

Wehla kwisitishi esilandelayo ze wazibona sele egaxeleka kwisitalato esiphithizelayo.

UBra Tsotsi wayembukele uMnumzana Mvundla etatazela exakwe kukuwela indlela, kwaye wayibona nale nto ithe thu phakathi kweentupha zakhe.

“Ikhulu lonke!” watsho sele elenceza imilebe. Waya ngqo kuMnumzana Mvundla. “Ukhangeleka ulahlekile mfo wethu,” watsho ngolo ncumo lukalova. “Mna ndinguBra Tsotsi, ndinceda amandwendwe kwesi sixeko sethu.”

“Mna ke ndinguMnumzana Mvundla,” utsho emxhawula ngesandla. “Ndisendleleni eya kwaMnumzana Mandela,” utshilo uMnumzana Mvundla. “Ndisa oku ndikuphetheyo.” Umbonise ngokupheleleyo eli rherheba lemali.

“Aha,” utshilo uBra Tsotsi. “uMandela ngumhlobo wam omkhulu. Zisa apha ndikusele kuye.” Walixhwila elo rherheba le-R100 waza waphela emehlweni kuloo nginginya.

UMnumzana Mvundla yayingamonwabisanga kwaphela le ndlela izinto eziqhubeka ngayo. Wayefuna ukuhlangana noMnumzana Mandela buqu ze baxhawulane ngezandla. Kodwa ngoku, konke afanele kukukwenza kukuphethuka angene endleleni egodukayo. Ngoku uza kuthini kwizilwanyana xa ebuzwa ngokuhlangana kwakhe noMnumzana Mandela?

“Hayi bo,” ugqibe ngelitshoyo. “Mandikhangele uBra Tsotsi ze ndithathe ela phetshana.”

Ngokukhawuleza uMnumzana Mvundla waphinyela kweso siphithiphithi sabantu, etsiba phezu kweemoto ezibalekayo, engena ephuma ezivenkileni.

“Nankuya!” uMnumzana Mvundla umthe tshe uBra Tsotsi, kwivenkile kaMaPhiri ethengisa inyama yenkukhu eneperi-peri, ezinika kwibhokisi yamaphiko ababayo e-R50.

“Heyi, Bra Tsotsi,” utshilo uMnumzana Mvundla, “zisa apha iphetshana lam.”

UBra Tsotsi wothuka wabanda kangangokuba watsarhwa yiloo peri-peri, nto leyo yamenza wakhutywa akayeka.

“Nantsi hikh thatha hikh uhambe hikh,” watsho, emnika irherheba le-R50.

“Ipinki ngoku?” uMnumzana Mvundla waphakamisa iphetshana elo emangalisiwe. “Ngoku kwenzeke ntoni kuMnumzana Nyathi? Kodwa nanku uMnumzana Ngonyama ozakube endixelela ukuba kufuneka ndifunde ukuze ndibe nokumelana nesixeko! Ha!” Walibhencabhenca eli rherheba. “Kungcono kuba uMnumzana Mandela usekhona.”

UMnumzana Mvundla wabona abantu befolele ukungena eteksini. Ngemva kwabo, kwindawo ekuma kuyo iiteksi, kwakuxhonywe umfanekiso kaMnumzana Mandela.

“Aha,” utshilo uMnumzana Mvundla. “Fan’ ukuba nabo bandwendwela uMnumzana Mandela njengam.” Watsho engena etyhwini apho. Kwaza kwathi kwakufika iteksi, naye wazibetha phakathi.

“Uhlala phi uMandela?” ubuze kumqhubi.

“Ekupheleni kwendlela ende eya enkulelekweni, mhlobo wam,” utsho ngoncumo lobubele. “Ndizakukusa khona.”

Baqhuba esinye isiqingatha seyure, badlula isikolo, bagqitha kubathengisi basezitalatweni, behlisa uhola wendlela, badlula ecaweni, bacanda dolophu. Ekugqibeleni umqhubi weteksi wemisa erenkini.

“Wehla apha ke mhlobo wam,” watsho umqhubi. “Uzakwenyuka ngale ndlela, de ubone isakhiwo esikhulu, ekukho isango elikhulu kunye noonogada ngaphambi kwaso. Iyakuba yi-R30.” Wabe sele etsala irherheba le-R50 elivele phakathi kweentupha zikaMnumzana Mvundla.

Wathi xa aza kukhalaza uMnumzana Mvundla …

“Nantso itshintshi yakho ke mhlekazi.” Umqhubi watsho emfumbathisa irherheba lemali phakathi kweentupha zakhe.

UMnumzana Mvundla ujonge eli phetshana litsha. Kwakhona lalahlukile kwelo lakuqala. Endaweni kaMnumzana Ngonyama, kukho uNkosikazi Ndlovu owayemjamele ntsho. Kodwa wathi akuliguqula, wabona uMnumzana Mandela, esancume apho. UMnumzana Mvundla wamncumela naye waza waqakatha eqhubeka nohambo lwakhe olude.

Wangena endleleni, wahlangana nevenkile ebhaka izonka. Wema, wasezela emoyeni. Livumba lani elo limnandi kangaka? Wayama efestileni, eqwalasele iidonathi, iphen-keyiki, iipayi, iithaths, iikeyiki zeziqhamo, amaqebengwane, amagwinya, iibhiskithi.

UMnumzana Mvundla watakataka wangena evenkileni apho.

“Ndingakunceda mhlekazi,” litshilo inenekazi elalikrobe ngaphaya kwekhawuntari.

“Ndingathanda ukukhe ndifumane enye yezi,” utsho ekhombe kwiidonathi. “Hayi, hayi, enye yezi,” watsho embonisa isilayi sethath yobisi. Waze wabiza isilayi sekeyiki yetshokholethi, ibhiskithi, ingququ eswiti yamaqebengwana, igwinya.

“Nceda mhlekazi, yide utsho ukuba yintoni na kanye oyifunayo.”

UMnumzana Mvundla wakhomba ibhanisi ekugqibeleni.

“Aha!” litshilo eli nenekazi ngoncumo. “Ukhethe kakuhle kakhulu.”

Layithi tshwa loo bhanisi kwisingxotyana sayo laza lamnika. Waqabuka sele iphetshana likaMnumzana Mandela lisezandleni zeli nenekazi. Lathi xa liyifaka ezintupheni zakhe, yaba sele ijike yaluhlaza ngoku! Ucinga ukuba ngubani ngoku owayethabathe indawo kaNkosikazia Ndlovu? Akakho omnye, nguMnumzana Mvubu emlumkisa ngeSixeko sabaFundayo.

Wathi tancu ngaphandle kwevenkile uMnumzana Mvundla, wathi nkamfu kwibhanisi yakhe, wacingisisa, “Ingaba liyakutshintsha kangaphi iphetshana likaMnumzana Mandlela phambi kokuba adibane naye?” Kusenjalo, ubone unogada eme ngasesangweni elikhulu. Waqakatha waya kunogada, wambulisa waza wabuza:

“Ingaba uMnumzana Mandela uhlala apha?”

“Ewe,” kunjalo.

“NdinguMnumzana Mvundla weHlathikazi le-Afrika, ndinephetshana elibalulekileyo lakhe.”

Unogada wahambisa wenjenje, “Ingaba ubumisele idinga naye?”

“Hayi,” utshilo uMnumzana Mvundla. “Kodwa ndinephetshana lakhe.”

Waguquka unogada waza wakhwaza kumboko wokuthetha.

“Mhlekazi, NdinoMnumzana Mvundla apha osuka kwihlathikazi …”

Kwavakala ilizwi elingqokolayo nelirhwexayo kuloo mboko wokuthetha. “UMnumzana Mvundla! Ingqanga, uMnumzana Mvundla weHlathikazi le-Afrika?”

“Ewe, Mnumzana Mandela.”

“Hayi ke, mngenise ngaphakathi!”

Yabayintlanganiso enkulu kakhulu leyo. Isandla esikhulu sikaMnumzana Mandela sixhawula uthupha lukaMnumzana Mvundla wodumo. La madoda mabini oonwabisana ngamyoli wona amabali asesixekweni nawasehlathini, amabali eengonyama namagorha, amabali enkululeko naweehambo zodelo-ngozi.

Emva koko ke, uMnumzana Mvundla waxelela uMnumzana Mandela ukuba ubekwa yintoni na apho.

“Ndifumene eli phetshana ngaphandle komnyango wendlu yam,” utsho, enikezela nge-R10. “Eli phetshana liguquke amatyeli amaninzi ngokombala kwaye bonke nabahlobo bam abakhulu basehlathini bebemana ukuveza ubuzo babo apha kulo. Ndiliqondile ukuba lelakho, yiyo loo nto ndiqonde ukuba ndize kukunika ngokwam.”

UMnumzana Mandela wamangaliseka kakhulu, kodwa walamkela ngoncumo eli phetshana. Umfoti weza kuthatha iifoto zikaMnumzana Mandela kunye noMnumzana Mvundla. Kwabe sele kufika nabasebenzi bakaMabonwa-kude beze kwenza ifilimu yabo ukuze baboniswe kwiNdaba zeNtsimbi yesiThandathu.

Wathi akubuyela ekhaya uMnumzana Mvundla, wabiza intlanganiso. Wazibalisela zonke izilwanyana ngolo hambo lwakhe lunomdla. Wababalisela ngabantu ahlangene nabo neendawo azibonileyo. Kwakunye nangendlela athe, ekugqibeleni, wabonana ngayo noMnumzana Mandela.

“Ee, bahlobo bam,” ulebele ngelo etsho ngoncumo lwendelelo ejonge kuNgonyama, uNdlovu, uNyathi, uHlosi kunye noMvubu, “Ndikwenze konke oku ngaphandle kokufunda kwa-igama elinye nje.” Kuthe ke yakuphuma intlanganiso, nelanga sele litshonile, zonke izilwanyana zabuyela kumakhaya azo ukuze zifumane ukuphumla.

Ngentsasa elandelayo, uMnumzana Mvundla wothuswa yingxolokazi etsho kumnyango wakhe.

“Ingaba yintoni leyo?” ithathe ibeka ingqondo yakhe. “Mhlawumbi nguNkosikazi Ndlovu ungqisha kuba ephethwe ngumsindo, uyawazokundixoxisa.”

Ukrobe kancinci emnyango. UNkosikazi Ndlovu wayengabonakali ndawo apho. Kodwa kwakukho imvulophu enkulu emethini yakhe.

Waphumela ngaphandle, wakroba ekhangela ukuba ngubani lowo uyibeke apho. Kwakungabonakali mntu.

UMnumzana Mvundla wayivula imvulophu. Kwakukho ileta ngaphakathi:

Mnumzana Mvundla othandekayo

Eli lizwe lonke lisabalisa ngokusindwendwela kwakho. Ndiyabulela kakhulu ngamabali amnandi othe wandibalisela wona, kwakunye nokubuyisa irherheba le-R10 lam. Fumana, ngaphakathi ndifake irherheba le-R200 ukuze ulisebenzise xa uphinde wandwendwela isixeko.

Ngeminqweno emihle

Nelson Mandela

Ngenxa yokuba wayengakwazi ukufunda, uMnumzana Mvundla wayengenamdla weleta leyo. Kodwa kukho nto yimbi eyathi qithi kule mvulophu yaze yathi thaca emethini yakhe.

UMnumzana Mvundla waqwalasela eli rherheba le-R200 lalithe thaca phantsi. Wayengayikholelwa ke le ayibonayo.

“Andiyikholelwa ke le!” ukhale ngelitshoyo. “Kule ndawo inye njengentsasa yayizolo.”

Engachithanga xesha, ubize enye intlanganiso yazo zonke izilwanyana.

“Zihlobo zam,” uwuvule kanjalo umlomo wakhe, “hayi ngumhlola ke lo, iphetshana liphinde labuya kwakhona.” Uye waliphakamisa ebonisa wonke umntu.

“Ngoku kufu