UMnumzane uNogwaja waphuma ekhaya lakhe elisehlathini. Isibhakabhaka sasekuseni sasiluhlaza okwesibhakabhaka. Utshani buluhlaza okotshani. Izihlahla zinyakazizwa umoya opholile. Ihlathi lalichwaza izingoma zezinyoni. Kodwa …

Kumata wakhe wokusula izinyawo ophambi kwendlu kwakukhona into angakaze ayibone ngaphambilini: imali eyiphepha entsha ewu-R200.

Wayicosha uMnumzane uNogwaja. “Ufunani la uMnumzane uNgwe?” Wayiphendula. “Hawu! UMnumzane uMandela,” kumemeza yena.

Wayelokhu emisa aphinde ehlise idletshana lakhe lakwesokunxele ngesikhathi ecabanga. Wabuka uNkosazane Ntinginono, owayembuka ehleli egatsheni lesihlahla somunga.

“Ngicela ubize umhlangano wazo zonke izilwane,” kusho yena. “Kunesimemezelo esibalulekile engifuna ukusidlulisa.”

Wandiza ememeza, “Masiyeni sonke emhlanganweni, esihlahleni seBaobab, khona manje ekuseni. Masiyeni sonke emhlanganweni …”

“Kazi sekwenzekeni-ke manje?” kuzibuza wonke umuntu, ngesikhathi bakha isikokela ngaphansi kwesihlahla.

UMnumzane uNogwaja wama phakathi kwesikokela. Wathi ukuthinta isikhwehlela wase eqala:
“Zakhamizi zasehlathini, nginezindaba ezibalulekile enginiphathele zona. Lokhu,” washo ngesikhathi ephakamisa u-R200 oyiphepha, “kuwele emateni wami wokusula izinyawo ophambi kwendlu. Angazi ukuthi kuyini nokuthi kusho ukuthini, kodwa kunobuso bukaMnumzane uMandela kukho ngakho nginesiqiniseko sokuthi okwakhe …”

“Kunobuso bami kukho futhi,” kusho uMnumzane uNgwe evungama sakudlala. “Kungenzeka ukuthi kungokwami.”

Kwahleka wonke umuntu ngaphandle kukaMnumzane uNogwaja. Wayengenaso isikhathi samahlaya.

“Ngihlela ukuya edolobheni ngalo leli hora ngiyobuyisela leliphepha elibalulekile kuMnumzane uMandela.”

“Ini?” Kubuza uNyathi, eshaqekile. “Uzolahleka laphaya.”

“Ngizolahlwa yini?” kubuza uMnumzane uNogwaja, ekhipha isifuba sakhe.

“Ngoba awukwazi ukufunda,” kusho uMnumzane uBhejane, ekhomba uMnumzane uNogwaja ngophondo lwakhe olucijile.

“Umbhedo lowo!” kuvungama uMnumzane uNogwaja.

“Yiqiniso,” Kugxoba uNkosikazi uNdlovu ngonyawo lwakhe phansi ngamandla. “Edolobheni leziFundiswa wonke umuntu uyakwazi ukufunda. Kanti labo abangakwazi ukufunda basakufunda.”

“Ngabe, ngingehlelwa yini?” Kubuza uMnumzane uNogwaja.

Kwagxuma uMnumzane uBhubesi, eyaluzisa izindezu ezisebusweni bakhe. “Labo abangakwazi ukufunda baphinda amaphutha abo njalo bephindelela,” esho egwavuma. “Kuzoba njalo nakuwe.”

“We!” Kugigitheka uMnumzane uNogwaja. “Angeke kwenzeke kimi lokho, katshana!” Ngalawo mazwi wahamba enganalo uvalo waphuma ngaphansi kukaNkosikazi uNdlovu. Wase engqabashiya ehla ngendledlana eholela eDolobheni leziFundiswa.

Kungaphelanga sikhathi waqala ukuzwa imisindo yedolobha. Wabe eselibona. Wayengakaze aye edolobheni ngaphambilini.

Wathi jeqe ubuso bukaMnumzane uNgwe emalini eyiphepha. Babungathi bumxwayisa ukuthi angahambi.

“Kodwa ngingoMncinyane oHlakaniphile,” kusho uMnumzane uNogwaja. “Ngihlakaniphe kakhulu kunomuntu wonke oseDolobheni leziFundiswa.” Washo egxuma engena edolobheni.

Abantu bokuqala ababona kwakungamantombazane nabafana besikole. Babebukeka bebahle emifaniswaneni yabo enemibala eluhlaza okwesibhakabhaka nophuzi. Babephethe izikhwama zesikole nezincwadi.

“Sawubona, Mnumzane uNogwaja!” bambingelela.

“Sanibonani!” Kumemeza uMnumzane uNogwaja ebingelela naye, eziqhenya ngoba babemazi ukuthi ungubani. Kodwa wayefisa ukwazi ngalokhu. “Ningazelaphi?” kubuza yena.

“Sifunde ngawe ezincwadini zethu zezindaba,” kusho intombazane. “Ngendlela uMnumzane uFudu akukhohlisa ngayo emqhudelwaneni.”

Bahleka bonke. Wababuka kabi uMnumzane uNogwaja wase eqhubeka nohambo lwakhe.

Wabona abantu bejahe isitimela wagijima nabo. Endaweni yokuthenga amathikithi indoda egqoke umfaniswano omuhle eme ngemuva kwekhawunta, yelula isandla sayo uMnumzane uNogwaja, ephakamise u-R200 wathi, “Ngisendleleni yokuyobona uMnumzane uMandela.”

Indoda yathatha imali eyiphepha esidladleni sakhe …

“Hheyi!” Kubhikisha uMnumzane uNogwaja.

Indoda yambuyisela imali eyiphepha ewu-R100.

UMnumzane uNogwaja wahlolisisa imali eyiphepha esitimeleni. “Seyishintshe yaluhlaza okwesibhakabhaka,” kusho yena, emangele. “Kanti noMnumzane uNyathi usethathe indawo kaMnumzane uNgwe.” Waphendula imali eyiphepha. “Kodwa usekhona uMnumzane uMandela.” Wakhipha izaqathi ephaketheni lakhe wadla ethokozile, ebuka lapho behamba khona ngaphandle.

“Uyabona, Mnumzane uNyathi,” esho ku-R100 oyiphepha. “Noma ngingakwazi nje ukufunda, ngisendleleni yokuyohlangana noMnumzane uMandela.”

“Uxolo, mnumzane.”

UMnumzane uNogwaja wabuka indoda egqoke umfaniswano oluhlaza okwesibhakabhaka. “Awuvumelekile ukudla esitimeleni. Awukwazi yini ukufunda lokhu?” Wakhomba uphawu olwalungenhla kwamadlebe kaMnumzane uNogwaja olwalufundeka kanje:

SICELA UNGADLELI ESITIMELENI

“O,” kusho uMnumzane uNogwaja, efaka izaqathi zakhe azidle wazishiya zinguhhafu ephaketheni lakhe.

Wehla esiteshini esilandelayo wase ezithola esemgwaqweni omatasatasa kakhulu.

UBra Tsotsi wabuka uMnumzane uNogwaja ngesikhathi ezama ukuwela umgwaqo, wabona nokuthi wayephetheni esidladleni sakhe.

“Ikhulu lamarandi!” kusho yena, ekhotha izindebe zomlomo wakhe. Waya kuMnumzane uNogwaja.

“Ubukeka udukile, mfowethu,” esho esineka. “NginguBra Tsotsi, ngikhona ukuze ngisize izivakashi ezintsha edolobheni lethu.”

“NginguMnumzane uNogwaja,” esho emxhawula. “Kanti ngiya kuMnumzane uMandela,” kusho uMnumzane uNogwaja. “Ngiyomnika lokhu.” Ephakamisa imali eyiphepha.

“Awu,” kusho uBra Tsotsi. “UMandela ungumngani wami omkhulu. Ngizomnika.” Wahlwitha u-R100 wanyamalala esixukwini.

UMnumzane uNogwaja wayengathokozile ngendlela izinto ezazenzeka ngayo. Wayefuna ukuhlangana noMnumzane uMandela uqobo lwakhe amxhawule nokumxhawula futhi. Kodwa manje, inye kuphela into ayengayenza ukuphenduka abuyele ekhaya. Bese ezitshelani izilwane
ngokuhlangana kwakhe noMnumzane uMandela?

“Angeke,” kunquma yena. “Kumele ngimtholile uBra Tsotsi ngithathe imali eyiphepha.”

Ngokushesha uMnumzane uNogwaja waphuma phakathi kwezixuku zabantu, weqa phezu kwezimoto esihambayo, wangena ephuma ezitolo.

“Nanguya!” UMnumzane uNogwaja wabona uBra Tsotsi kwa-MaPhiri’s Peri-Peri Chicken Shop, ezitika ngebhokisi lama-Wild Wings ka-R50.

“We, Bra Tsotsi,” kusho uMnumzane uNogwaja, “buyisa imali yami eyiphepha.”

UBra Tsotsi wathuka kangangokuthi isinongo se-periperi sahlala emphinjeni wakhe, sambangela inkwici.

“Nansi kwici kwici kwici,” esho, emnikeza imali ewu-R50 oyiphepha.

“Seyiphinki?” UMnumzane uNogwaja waphakamisa imali eyiphepha, edidekile. “Useshonephi-ke manje uMnumzane uNyathi? Kodwa nangu uMnumzane uBhubesi engitshela ukuthi ngidinga ukufunda ukuze ngikwazi ukuphila edolobheni! We!” Wayiphendula. “Kodwa okungenani usekhona uMnumzane uMandela.”

UMnumzane uNogwaja wabona abantu bemi emgqeni belinde itekisi. Ngemva kwabo, endaweni
yokukhosela abalinde amatekisi, kwakukhona isithombe sikaMnumzane uMandela.

“Nazo-ke,” kusho uMnumzane uNogwaja. “Kumele ukuba nabo bayovakashela uMnumzane uMandela.” Wama emgqeni. Kwathi uma kufika itekisi naye wagibela.

“Uhlala kuphi uMnumzane uMandela?” ebuza umshayeli.

“Ekugcineni kohambo olude olubheke enkululekweni, mngani wami,” esho ngokumamatheka okukhombisa ubungani. “Ngizokuhambisa khona.”

Bahamba isikhathi esingangesigamu sehora, badlula isikole, abantu abadayisa emgwaqweni, behla ngomgwaqo omkhulu, badlula isonto, bahamba endaweni yokuhlala abantu esedolobheni. Ekugcineni umshayeli wama esikhumulweni samatekisi.

“Wehla lapha, mngani wami,” kusho umshayeli. “Vele ukhuphuke ngalo mgwaqo uze ufike endlini enkulu enesango elikhulu elinonogada ngaphandle. Kumele ukhokhe u-R30.” Wase ethatha u-R50 oyiphepha esidladleni sikaMnumzane uNogwaja.

Wayesezobhikisha uMnumzane uNogwaja ngesikhathi …

“Nanku ushintshi wakho, mnumzane.” Umshayeli washutheka imali eyiphepha esidladleni sakhe.

UMnumzane uNogwaja wabuka imali eyiphepha entsha. Yayihlukile futhi kunedlule. Esikhundleni sikaMnumzane uBhubesi, wayejanyelwe uNkosikazi uNdlovu. Kodwa wathi uma
eyiphendula wamthola esekhona uMnumzane uMandela, esamamatheka. UMnumzane uNogwaja wamamatheka naye wase eqala ukugxumagxuma enyuka ngomgwaqo.

Endleleni yakhe wadlula isitolo esidayisa okubhakiwe. Wama, wahogela umoya. Yini le enuka kamnandi kangaka? Wacindezela ikhala lakhe laba isibaca efasiteleni lesitolo esidayisa okubhakiwe ebuka amadonathi, ama-pancake, ophaya, ama-tart, ama-fruitcake, namabhisikidi.

Washo phakathi esitolo uMnumzane uNogwaja.

“Ngingakusiza, mnumzane,” kukho ileti elalingemva kwekhawunta.

“Ngingathanda okukodwa kwalokhu,” esho, ekhomba amadonathi. “Cha, cha, cha kwalokhu,” emkhombisa ucezu lwe-milk tart. Wase ekhomba i-chocolate cake ewugqinsi, ibhisikidi, i-apple crumble, i-koeksister.

“Ngicela unqume ukuthi ufunani bandla, mnumzane.”

UMnumzane uNogwaja wakhomba i-Chelsea bun.

“Awuboni-ke!” kumamatheka ileti. “Ukhethe kahle.”

Wafaka i-Chelsea bun ephaketheni wase emnika lona.

Kusenjalo, wabona imali eyiphepha elinsundu kaMnumzane uMandela seyisezandleni zeleti. Kanti ngesikhathi seliyibuyisela esidladleni sakhe, yayisiluhlaza okotshani! Ngabe ucabanga ukuthi ubani owayesethathe indawo kaNkosikazi uNdlovu? KwakunguMnumzane uBhejane
emxwayisa ngeDolobha leziFundiswa.

UMnumzane uNogwaja wagxuma waphuma esitolo, eluma kakhulu i-Chelsea bun yakhe, futhi ezibuza nokuthi, “Kazi izoshintsha kangaki imali eyiphepha kaMnumzane uMandela ngaphambi kokuba ahlangane naye?” Wabe esebona unogada esangweni elikhulu. Wagxuma waya kunogada, wambingelela wase embuza ukuthi:

“Ngabe uhlala lapha uMnumzane uMandela?”

“Yebo,” uhlala lapha.

“NginguMnumzane uNogwaja ovela ehlathini lase-Afrika. Ngimphathele ipheshana elibalulekile.”

Unogada wathi, “Ngabe ubulwenzile yini uhlelo lokuzombona?”

“Cha,” kusho uMnumzane uNogwaja. “Nginepheshana.”

Unogada waphenduka wase ekhuluma ku-intercom.

“Mnumzane, nginoMnumzane uNogwaja ovela ehlathini …”

Kwazakala izwi elikhulu, eligigithekayo ku-intercom. “UMnumzane uNogwaja! Usaziwayo onguMnumzane uNogwaja wasehlathini lase-Afrika?”

“Yebo, Mnumzane uMandela.”

“Kulungile, mngenise!”

Wahamba kahle kakhulu umhlangano. Isandla esikhulu sikaMnumzane uMandela sixhawula isidladla sikasaziwayo onguMnumzane uNogwaja.

La madoda womabili azijabulisa ngokuxoxelana izindaba zasedolobheni nezasehlathini, zamabhubesi namaqhawe, zenkululeko kanye nezigigaba.

UMnumzane uNogwaja wabe esetshela uMnumzane uMandela ukuthi ubezothini kuye.

“Ngithole leli pheshana ngaphandle kwesitebhisi somnyango wami,” kusho yena, emnika u-R10. “Leli pheshana lishintshe umbala kaningana, futhi sekuvele ubuso babo bonke abangani bami abakhulu basehlathini kulo. Ngazile ukuthi elakho ngokho ngizokunika lona mina uqobo.”

Kwamdida lokhu uMnumzane uMandela, kodwa wathatha imali eyiphepha emamathekile. Kwafika ozothatha izithombe uMnumzane uMandela noMnumzane uNogwaja. Kwafika nethimba likamabonakude kude lizobashuthela Izindaba zehora leSithupha.

Ekubuyeni kwakhe uMnumzane uNogwaja wabiza umhlangano. Waxoxela zonke izilwane ngezigemegeme ezihlaba umxhwele. Wazixoxela ngabantu ahlangene nabo, nezindawo azibonile. Nokuthi ugcine ebonene noMnumzane uMandela.

“Kanti, bangani bami,” kusho yena, ngokuziqhenya ebuka uBhubesi noNdlovu noNyathi noNgwe noBhejane, “ngikwenze konke lokhu ngingakwazi nokufunda ngisho igama elilodwa.” Esesho kanjalo, ilanga lazilahla kunina nezilwane zagoduka zonke ukuze ziyophumula kahle ebusuku.

Ngakusasa ekuseni, uMnumzane uNogwaja wavuswa into ethi dinsi esitebhisini esiphambi komnyango wakhe.

“Yini leyo?” ezibuza. “Mhlawumbe izigi zikaNkosikazi uNdlovu othukuthele ozoqophisana nami ngamazwi.”

Walunguza ngaphandle. Wayengekho uNkosikazi uNdlovu. Kodwa kwakunemvulophu enkulu kumata wakhe.

Waphuma wayobheka ukuthi yayilethwe ngubani. Kwakungekho muntu.

UMnumzane uNogwaja wavula imvulophu. Kwakuyincwadi:
Mnumzane uNogwaja Othandekayo
Izwe lonke lisakhuluma ngokusivakashela kwakho. Ngiyabonga ngokungixoxela kwakho zonke lezo zindaba, nangokubuyisa kwakho u-R10 oyiphepha. Ngikufakele u-R200 oyiphepha ukuze uwusebenzise ngokuzayo uma uvakashela edolobheni.
Ozithobayo
UNelson Mandela

Ngenxa yokuthi wayengakwazi ukufunda, uMnumzane uNogwaja wayengenandaba nencwadi. Kodwa kukhona into eyawa encwadini yehlela kumata.

UMnumzane uNogwaja wabuka phansi wabona u-R200 oyiphepha. Akazange awakholwe amehlo akhe.

“Angiyikholwa-ke lento!” esho ememeza. “Endaweni efanayo neyayizolo ekuseni.”

Akazange apholise maseko, wabiza omunye umhlangano nazo zonke izilwane.

“Bangani bami,” kumemezela yena, “kuyindida enkulu lokhu, libuyile futhi ipheshana.” Waliphephezelisa ukuze zilibone zonke izilwane.

“Futhi kumele ngithathe uhambo olubuyela kuMnumzane uMandela ukuze ngilibuyisele kuye.”

Waqeda ukusho njalo wangena indlela, ehamba egxuma ehla ngendledlana eholela eDolobheni
leziFundiswa, ipheshana liphephezela esidladleni sakhe.