Ayishaywa Ingede Ngetshe

Sekuphele iminyaka emine uNqobani egadla zephukela kulentokazi azifela ngayo

yaphesheya komfula uMziyonke esigodini saseZanyana esithuthukile. Igama laleli

phofukazi elisho ngehwanqana elingathi libazwa zonke izinsuku nguNobuhle Biyela,

akuqhalaqhala inkinga yomuntu kanti nakubo kukhonjwa ngophakathi njengoba

kukhona izifundiswa nosomabhizinisi nje. Ohlangothini lukaNqobani kuthanda ukuba

madolo nzima ngoba nezindlu zakubo sezaba neminkenke zabamifantufantu ngenxa

yokuswela kanti futhi zakhiwe ngodaka. Nalendawo abakhe kuyona kukwantuthuko

kayibonwa njengoba namanzi besawabanga nemfuyo nje. UNqobani noNobuhle

basebangeni leshumi manje bobabili bahlukene ngokwemikhakha. UNqobani waqala

ukuyithanda lentokazi eminyakeni eminingi eyadlulayo emva kokuyibona kade

ehambe nomgcagco owawusuka eNtanzini uya eZanyana. Amehlo kaNqobani athi

angabona lobuya buso base maBiyeleni indoda yashaywa wuvalo olalungakaze

luyihlasele selokhu yazalwa. Kuphele iminyaka emibili yonke uNqobani ehleli nalolu

sizi lokuthanda umuntu kodwa engazi yena. Wamudla kakhulu lomzwangedwa

uNqobani, wayeke asuke eNtanzini ngezinyawo ashone eZanyana ngethemba

lokuthi uzofike abone uNobuhle kodwa kwakuvele kube inqina kamabuyaze.

Ngemuva kweminyaka emibili uNobuhle ushintshe isikole ibanga lesiphica munwe

munye wabuya wazolenzela esikoleni sikaNqobani, bafunda nasekilasini linye.

Kwakuboshelwe ngempela kuleli kilasi ngoba kwakuke kuthi nxa kubizwa abafundi

abayishumi abenze kahle ezifundweni zabo bavele baqhamuke kulo bonke.

UNqobani kwakuhlale kunguye obahudula phambili ngenqwaba yemiklomelo

ezifundweni zakhe futhi engumuntu ozithulelayo futhi elungile, isibili sasibanjwa

iqhalaqhala lakoBiyela uNobuhle. Babethi uma sebemisiwe esiteji ngokwezinombolo

zokuphumelela kwabo uNqobani amoyizele into engapheli emi eduze kwesithandwa

senhliziyo yakhe, lapho-ke uNobuhle kwakusuke sekuthe xhifi kuyena ukuba seduze

kwalomfana ohlale ebukana naye angazi noma uqabuka ukubona abantu ngaye yini.

Kuthe ngawo lowo nyaka kuzovalelwa ikhefu laphakathi nonyaka uNqobani

wawuphinda lomkhuba wakhe wokubukana noNobuhle owayehleli ngaphesheya

kwakhe ekilasini ezixoxela nabakhozi bakhe. Yaphenduka njengenhlwathi intokazi

yakoBiyela ibheka uNqobani lapho-ke wavele waswela umgodi wokucasha,

waqhaqhazela umzimba wonke ingakasho lutho nje enguNobuhle. “Kanti wena yini

ngawe ngempela, ulokhu wabukana nami nje?” uNobuhle ememeza eqhalazela

 

 

ngaphesheya. UNqobani wake wafikelwa umuzwa wokuthi asukume bese emuthi

hlwi uNobuhle ayophumela naye ngaphandle njengoba ikilasi lase lithule lithe cwaka

lilale iziqengqe zekilasi.

“Hheyi, ukuthi ngiyakuthanda nkosazana kodwa inkinga yami ngiyakwesaba. Indlela

omuhle ngayo ngathi wazibaza wena qobo lakho.” uNqobani ekhulumela phansi

enamahloni. Zabuzana zodwa izingane zithi utheni ngoba zingamuzwanga

lombhemu waseNtanzini; lapho-ke nomunye wayesho lokhuya nomunye asho

lokhuya. “Niyamuzwa ukuthi uthini kilasi?” uNobuhle emi ngezinyawo emoyizela.

Zasho zonke izingane zathi. “Uthini?! Uthini?!” zimemeza ngokushiyana. UNobuhle

wahleka kancane, uNqobani wazizwa eba nethemba. “Uthi umadabudabu

uyangithand…” akabange esakwazi nokuqedela uNobuhle ngenxa yohleko olwase

luqhuma phezulu sekuhleka nabantu esingakaze sabezwa nangelilodwa ilanga bethi

vu. Abanye babehleka baze babhampe ezihlalweni, kulapho-ke okwahleka enye

intombazana yaze yaquleka kwasala utiki ishiye umhlaba. Abanye babenganakile

ukuthi sekunomonakalo njengoba kwase kunakwe labomaphaphiyose babafana

baseZanyana abeza kuNqobani bamhleka baze bamgaxa besulela ehembeni lakhe

elalidabuke emhlane izinyembezi zabo.

UNqobani wadabuka kakhulu njengoba aphenduka inhlekisa isikole sonke

sebefafaze indaba yakhe baze bayinonga abafundi basekilasini lakhe. Kwaze

kwaphela amaholide esaba nokuphuma endlini ngenxa yalokhuya kuphoxeka

akuthola, kodwa-ke uthando lokuthanda uNobuhle lwaqina kakhulu enhliziyweni

yakhe. Izinsika zalo zafana nezikhonkwane eziqinise zasekela izulu nomhlaba.

Zavulwa izikole kwabuyelwa ensimini. Zagadulisana madoda kwakuncane indawo

ilapho-ke umonakalo owadaleka emqondweni nasenhliziyweni kaNqobani owacaca

khona ngoba kwathi nxa kuvalelwa ingxenye yesithathu yonyaka waphuma

isikhombisa, phambili beholwa intokazi yaseZanyana eyayimoyizela ingaqedi,

inhliziyo kaNqobani yayidabuke kakhulu ngokuqhelelelana kwakhe ngebanga

elingaka noNobuhle kodwa ingxenye eningi yayo yayeneme kakhulu

ngokuphumelela kukaNobuhle. Akaphelanga moya lomfokazi waseNtanzini

waqhubeka walubika usizi lwakhe kuNobuhle ukuze lungene emqondweni wakhe

nasenhliziyweni yakhe. Kodwa-ke kwakufana nokuthi uthela amanzi emhlane

wedada ngoba uNobuhle wayesemenyanya kakhulu kunakuqala emva kokuba

 

 

izinhloli zakhe uNobuhle zimuthumelele izithombe zezindlu zakhaboNqobani ezase

zingavuma phansi noma kunini.

Kuthe ngonyaka ophelile uNqobani wazimisela kakhulu ezifundweni zakhe,

nangapha kulesi sikweledu sakhe esingakuNobuhle akangaxegisa. Kwaze

kwadabuka umngani kaNobuhle wanxenxa uNobuhle ukuthi akasale eseyizwela

lemvu yeNkosi ngoba kusobala ukuthi ayizenzi ngempela. Izinto ziqale ukuxega

mhla kufika ibhungu eselingudokotela elingumakhelwane kaNqobani, lezwa

ukuxoxozela esizweni sonkana ngentombi yaseZanyana enhle sengathi yazibaza

yona. Leli bhungu lase lazi kamhlophe ukuthi umuntu oseqhulwini kuzo zonke

izesheli zikaNobuhle kwakunguNqobani. Leli bhungu elinguSazi igama lalo

lakhumbula izenzo zikamnewabo kaNqobani owalimuka iqatha emlonyeni

ngokulithathela intombi afike ayithatha kalula nje, ngoba lingenamali. Kuphele

unyaka uSazi eyinyobela lentokazi enguNobuhle efuna ukuyichoboza. Bese

kungazathi isiyazi nayo ukuthi khona okusemvakwayo ngendlela ebisichiliza ngayo

futhi-ke uNqobani ibingasamuzwa ngempela isimuhlinzela ezililini. Kuthe ngenye

imini uNqobani engakalilahli ithemba esalubeka lolu daba laphambilini memfu uSazi

ehamba nge-VW Golf R afike ayimise eceleni kwabo. Avule isicabha sakhe

kuphume ulozolo lwamaphimbo nezinsimbi ezipholile ze-Boyz-2-Men lapho bethi

khona End of the road. USazi avule umnyango wangemuva. “Asambeni.” Kusho

uSazi. “Hhowu, siyaphi?” uNqobani edidekile. UNobuhle asho phakathi avale

umnyango uSazi maqede abhambathe uNqobani ehlombe. Kwakuthi akabulale

umuntu uNqobani uma ezwa lezi zinhlamvu ezase zilokhu ziphindaphindekile nje

emsakazweni walemoto ezithi ‘We belong together…’ Wasala enkemile wababuka

njalo baze bayosithela, bathi mabesithela kwadilika izinyembezi emehlweni akhe,

wakhala waze wayozihlalela yedwa entabeni iNtabalibombo eselahlekelwe

ngamathemba.

Kuthe sekuntambama wehlela ezansi kwentaba amehlo ebomvu tebhu esebuyela

kubo, esekucabangisise kahle azokwenza ukuze ahlukane nalolu sizi. Esazihambela

kanjalo wabona insizwa esiqinile impela iza nganeno igqoke isudu emnyama

nezicathulo ezimnyama izinwele zayo sezimpunga zonke kodwa ibonakala ukuthi

ayigugile yona. UNqobani avele agoba indlela w\ayohlala etsheni eliphansi komtholo

azenze samuntu obopha imichilo yezicathulo, ukuze lobaba ezodlula bese

eziqhubekela naye nohambo lakhe. Lobaba kube sengathi uyadlula ngempela bese

 

 

eyigoba indlela eza kuNqobani. “Lahlala lodwa leli bhungu, elakwabani isibongo?”

kubuza lobaba ngezwi elihlabayo. Azizwe ecikeka nje uNqobani. “Uzokwenzani

ngalokho?” uNqobani efudumala. “O, ngiyajabula ukukwazi. Igama lami

nginguLungisani Kunene.” uKunene eletha isandla kuNqobani emoyizela. Livele

lizehlele lona igwebu esifubeni sikaNqobani, alethe isandla sakhe naye.

“NginguNqobani Zulu.” Bexawulana. “Malandela! Hhowu, insizwa ibikhala yini

amehlo abheja igazi nje?” uKunene ebukisisa amehlo kaNqobani. “C-ha cha

Mtimande, ukuthi nje ngi-nenkinga yawo am-ehlo.” uNqobani ephefumula kuzwakale

isibibithwane kancane. “Ngiyezwa mnewethu, kodwa manje sengixakwa

yisibibithwane-ke. Unenkinga yaso naso?” uKunene ekhipha izibuko ezimnyama

ekhukhwini enika uNqobani. UNqobani abindwe isidwa. “Uyangazi mina Mageba?”

“Cha ngiyakwe-shwama Malambule.” uNqobani ebhekisisa uKunene. “Kufanele

Malandela, angiyena owakulelizwe. Ibuyaphi insizwa yakoMalandela?” “O,

bengisaqalaza izinkomo zakithi Malambule njengoba sengibona nali nelanga lishona

nje.” uNqobani ngeliphansi.

“Nangalesikhathi uzinze lapha esicongweni sentaba ubusabheka zona?” uKunene

efulathele. Athule uNqobani. “Mnewethu khuluma ngizokulalela ngikululeke lapho

engingaluleka khona.” “Wee, angi-boni.” uNqobani enikina ikhanda ehla izinyembezi.

“Kufanele lokho, amehlo akho abheje igazi nje.” uKunene ehlala phansi. Aphumule

uNqobani. “Yini ekwenza ucabange ukuthi ungangisiza nje?” uNqobani esula

izinyembezi ngejezi lakhe. “Ngithe ukuba mdadlana kunawe.” uKunene emoyizela

kancane. “Uyabona Malandela, nami bengilingana nawe nje kuleminyakana, konke

ozodlula kukho nosudlule kukho ngikwazi kahle. Ngikwazi kahle ukuhlupheka

kokukhula, ungizwe kahle Malandela angisho ukuthi sengimdala nami; kodwa

sengithe ukukhula kancane. Khuluma-ke uhlushwa yini mnewethu?” uKunene

elungisa uNqobani izibuko azibeke esiphongweni. “Uxole Malambule, angiboni

ukuthi uzo-yizwa lenda-ba.” uNqobani ekhulumela phansi. “Mhlambe nalapho

uqinisile wena wasenhla, hheyi ngike ngahlukumezeka emoyeni wami,

ngihlukunyezwa yintombi ebengiyithanda kabi ngisengangawe.” “Hhawu,

yayikuhlupha ngani? Wenzenjani ukulu-ngisa leyo-nkinga?” uNqobani

enesibibithwane. “O-O, ngayithola inkinga. Yini inkinga phakathi kwakho nale ntombi

oyithandayo?” uNqobani agwinye amathe into engapheli eshaqwe ilombuzo.

Aphumule. “Ayingi-tha-ndi Mtimande, sengizame iminyaka ukutshala lembewu

 

 

ekhuliswa ngokulekelelana kuyo kodwa kayiqhumi.” “O, manje? Usucabanga

ukwenzenjani mnewethu?” uKunene ephefumula samuntu ovimbene. “Asengiphelele

amathemba manje Sgweje, senginqume ukuzibulala ngoba vele nale ntombi isiqome

umakhelwane wami ongudokotela ngoba enemali.” uNqobani ekhala.

“Nasi isibhamu mi! Zibulale manje lwabishi!” uKunene ekhipha inhlokohlela

eyishintsha. Kugijime amanzi emgogodleni wonke kuNqobani. “Sithathe phela

uzibulale manje! Ulindeni doti?! Azishe busakazeke manje ubuchopho!” uKunene

esefudumele ehlokoloza uNqobani ngaso isibhamu. UKunene asukume azishaye

amakhala ashone lena nalena, agcwale izinyembezi emehlweni. “Uzobulawa imina-

ke manje!” uKunene ekhomba uNqobani ngesibhamu. “Ngi-yaxolisa mnu-mzana,

unga-kwenzi lo-kho. Ngeke ngi-phinde.” uNqobani eselele phansi ekhala

enesibibithwane. ‘Gqo’ kuduma isibhamu. Kundize izinyoni ezihlahleni, kudume

amakhwela isigodi sonke bezwa lomsindo; kuhlokome izintaba zinanela. UNqobani

avuke athalaze izwe lonke engakholwa. “Usafuna ukushiya ummbila namanje, hhe?”

uKunene evutha. “C-ha cha cha mnu-mzane, hhawu ngisindile. Hhawu ngisindile

nge-mpela.” uNqobani engakholwa. “Lalela-ke. Hlukana phansi nale ntombi

oyithandayo!” “Ini?” “Ungizwe kahle. Uyolandelana nomuntu ongakuthandi kuze

kube nini? Buka nje, uyibhungu elihle kanjani? Uke ucabange nje ukuthi bangaki

abantu abakuthandayo langaphandle njengoba uchitha isikhathi sakho ulandelana

nalomuntu omlandelayo kuhle kwesimaku sebhunu?!” uKunene evutha. “Kodwa

kuhle ukuthandana nomuntu omthandayo…”

“Ehhe. Kanti kubi-ke ukuthandana nomuntu ongakuthandi ngoba uyaye ufune

ukuzibulala. Uzibulalele umuntu ongenandaba nawe!” uKunene ephula uNqobani

ulimi. “Malandela angilwi nawe, ngilwa nenkinga eyacishe yangibulala nami. Nsizwa

yakithi, uma ufa nje ucabanga ukuthi lomuntu wakho uzokuthanda, noma

uzoqhubeka azicathukele kamnandi engasenasicefe?” uKunene athule. “Mina ngithi

isicefe asiqhubeke siphile, sigwinye kubaba kunjalo sisebenze kanzima siziphendlele

indlela eya empumelelweni. Ngiyazi akulula ukukhohlwa ngomuntu, kodwa

kuyenzeka nami ngakwenza. Ukuba ngavumela ukucatshangelwa yinhliziyo ngabe

angikho kumanje. Uzobona-ke mhla waphumelela Malandela, kophosa wena

sebekulandela. Thatha nali ibhantshi lami ngoba angiboni ukuthi sisayophinde

sibonane. Igama lakho unguNqobani njalo, nqoba-ke.” uKunene ekhumula ibhantshi

elimbesa uNqobani maqede amshiye kanjalo aqhubeke nohambo lakhe. “Lomuntu

 

 

akayazi lento engiyizwayo, phela luyangibulala uthando lukaNobuhl...” “Luyambulala

na olwakho yena?” uKunene efaka isibhamu sakhe enqulwini eqhubeka ehamba.

UNqobani abuyele esikoleni engasadle nkobe zamuntu, ashaye adume ngazo.

Uphele unyaka aphume ephepheni kulenga nje eceleni kwegama lakhe izifundo

aziphumelele ngamalengiso, adumale nxa engaliboni nangokhalo igama

likaNobuhle.

**** **** **** **** **** **** **** **** **** **** **** **** ****

Lithatha osemsamu limbeke emnyango inkos’ impela, buka ngoba emva

kweminyaka emine umuzi wakwaZulu uNqobani ubesewuvuse wama qingqo uma

ukade wagcina ubusungafika udlule kodwa uze khona. UNobuhle akasahlali nakubo

useyinto nje ehamba ihlala, lapho-ke izintombi seziziphonsa ngenye indlela kulesi

silomo esinguMdidiyeli nombhali wamafilimu uNqobani kudle kona-ke ukuthi

lensizwa inokhakhaya oluqinile; zibuyele emuva sezihlehla. Kuvungame isizwe

sonke mhla kuzwakala ukuthi umfokazi wakwaZulu useqonywe yintombi

yakwaBiyela obese kuyiyona ebisimlandela manje. Izintombi ebese zithembile ukuthi

nanku umendo sezizowuthola kuNqobani zithwale izandla emakhanda uma zizwa

ukuthi usevele walobola nokulobola kwaBiyela zizowushaya kungekudala. Babodwa

ababekhuza ichilo mhla uNqobani egcagcelwa nguNobuhle owashadela ngaphansi

kwemigomo yokuthi kumele ayeke utshwala lobu abesebudla nogwayi lona

abesewubhema, ngenxa yokuthi ubesengundingasithebeni ukuvume konke

okuqhamuka kulomsamariya olungileyo onguNqobani. UNqobani usanda kudidiyela

ifilimi elotshwe nguye uqobo emayelana nezingqinamba zothando, asebeke

bayibona abawuvali umlomo ngenxa yobuciko nendlela ayididiyele ngayo. Indlela

abahlalisene kahle ngayo ayikhombisi ukuthi kuke kwabakhona ohlakaniphe

okudlula omunye phambilini. Kodwa kulezi zinsukwana kubukeka sengathi buqale

phansi ubuqhalaqhala kuNobuhle. Ilanga seliya kokhothama, uNobuhle uzibhemela

umndweza wakhe ngemuva kwendlu ulele ubheke phezulu kwazise noNqobani

uqeda kuphuma nje. “Ake ngisheshe nje angaze abuye uMageba.” uNobuhle

eziqhenya edonsa intuthu. “Sheshisa uqoqe onke amasakana akho uphume uphele

kulomuzi kababa! Kunini kwasa ngikukhuza ngalokubhema kwakho kanti ubungenza

isilima?!” UNqobani evutha bhe. UNobuhle athuke ize imxhile lentuthu yalomdweza

 

 

asevele wawufumbatha. “Lokhu akukhona okucabangayo Mageba?” uNobuhle

esondela kuNqobani.

UNqobani ahleke usulu. “O, bengicabanga ini njengoba kungekona lokhu

engikucabangayo?” “Bengi-ngabhe-mi mina.” uNobuhle engingiza. “Ubuwenzani?

Ubushunqa? Njengoba amehlo akho ebhalwe igudu nje kusuka kwesemfene kuya

kwesokuphosa.” “Bengilele n…” “Hhowu, ngokuphuma kwami nje imizuzwana

usulale amehlo aze aba bomvu? Obunjani bona lobo buthongo?” uNqobani eqinisa

amehlo. “Ukuthi nje Mageba…” “Angisafune kuzwa lutho Menziwa, phuma uphele

kulo muzi.” uNqobani ekhulumela phansi. “Hha! Angiyindawo mina. Ungakhohlwa

ukuthi uyangisaba njalo.” uNobuhle ekhuluma aze anyazise izandla sakuqhosha. “O,

ilokho kanti okwenza ungeyise, uphinde ubehlaza njengoba uhlaza nje. Asizwane-ke

ntokazi, ukukwesaba kwami kungokokuhlonipha hhayi kokuthobela umbhedo.

Awuphume-ke kuleli khaya, ngingaze ngikuntshinge mina.” uNqobani ngeliphansi.

“Hha! Kungamane kuphume wena!” uNobuhle ephakamisa izwi. UNqobani

aphumule, avume ngekhanda. Abuyisele izibuko emehlweni akhe. Angene endlini

avathe isudu yakhe kanokusho aziqhole maqede athathe izikhwama zakhe

azihudule ayozifaka emotweni. Angene emotweni ayihlehlise, abheke isibuko abone

uNobuhle emi phakathi nesango ekhala. Ashaye ihutha. “Ngizohamba kanjani manje

uma usunqwahe nendlela? Suka lapho bo hawu! Ufuna ukubona mhlolo muni

ngempela?” uNqobani evele ngewindi. “Angiyindawo, uyaphi ungi-shi-ya ngedwa?”

uNobuhle ekhala. UNqobani azizwe edabuka kancane. “Suka bo ngidlule!” uNqobani

ememeza. “Nx! Ngizokushayisa-ke!” uNqobani ethetha edinekile. “Ngishayise!”

uNobuhle edazuluka kakhulu.

IYAPHELA!!!