Serializing Nguni Novel Igazi Labafo: Chapter 3

ISAHLUKO 1
ISAHLUKO 2
ISAHLUKO 3

Ukuhlala kwakhe lapha uMpundule egcinwe yilentombazana enguPeggy kwenza wacina esiba lobungane lenye indoda eyayibizwa ngoMadlingozi. UMadlingozi lo nguye owayesajaha lamampela la kuPeggy . Waqala ukuphuma phandle uMpundule avakavakatshe loMadlingozi. Into eyamangalisa ngoMadlingozi yilokhu ayeyikho khona. Wayetshayela umkentshe wemota yohlobo lweBMW ecwazimulayo, egqoka ubucwebe begolide ledayimana.

Kwathi ngelinye ilanga uMadlingozi wathatha uMpundule ukuze bake bavakatshe nje amtshayise ngomoya lomfana. Bathatha enye yezimota zikaMadlingozi le abayibiza ngokuthi yi 318is isilahlamathende phela. Bathi sebephakathi kwayo uMadlingozi wawalahla lawo mathende! Wethuka uMpundule esizwa esebethwa ngumoya uphahla lungasekho.

'Heyi heyi madooooooooda!' Kwababaza uMpundule. Wafa yikuhleka uMadlingozi ebona lumfana eseqhulule amehlo ngokumangala.

'Ukwenza njani lokhu bhuti Madlingozi?'

'Ndibizwa ngoBra Dli mfondini. Kuyasetshenzwa aph' eMsawawa. Phela kuseMshishi apha kuyasheshwa. Nawe xa uthanda ungayigibela imoto efana nayo le'.

'Hayi bo! Ngingakwenza njani lokho BraDli?'

Wahleka kancane uMadlingozi. Waphinda wabuza njalo.

"Uhlakaniphile Mpundulu?"

Engakawuphenduli lumbuzo uMpundule, ingqondo yakhe yaqala yahlanhlatha ibuyela emuva yaze yayakuthi gxi esikhathini sakhe esesengumfanyana lapho eselusa umhlambi wenkomo zikamalume wakhe lena emadlelweni aluhlaza. Kwafika umcabango wamhla beficwa ngelikakaZamcolo izulu bephetsheya komfula uSimphathe. WayeloHlalani, umfana wale emizini yakoMatshatsha. Lana lelizulu kwangathi liqale nyakenye futhi alinakuba lomkhawulo. Linjalo lihlangene lomoya obanda mo, futhi lilongqwaqwane. Kwabakubi ebafaneni.  Bagodola, baqhuqha, sengathi abasaqhuqhi ngempela kodwa sebayaqhatsha nje. UMpundule wayengaselalo lethemba lokuthi bazafika emakhaya bengabaphilileyo. Phela kwasekungathi sebezamane bawome qha babeyiziduli. Ukuqhaqhazela kwabo kwasekungathi ngabantu abagida umgido wale eKinshasa kweCongo, kuthi lokutshayana kwamazinyo emilonyeni yabo kwakuzwakalela kude sengathi ngungoqo lapho egubha isihlahla sombhondo esiqinileyo kakhulu.
Ngenxa yokuthi lingakatshayi phansi lelizulu kwakuqale kwabalesifudumezo esasikhipha lemikhobo eziphaleni,  uMpundule wayenathe amanzi amanengi ukuze agcwalisele la ayephuma ngamaginqo emzimbeni wakhe.  Besaqhuba inkomo kanjalo, yabiza imvelo kuye, sekumele ayechitha, kodwa ngenxa yokuthi izandla zibanjiwe, kazihluphanga ngokukhiphela phandle isitho sakhe ukuze achame. Wamane wakhulula umzimba wakhe nje wazimanzisa kanye lasempahleni. Masinyane wafikelwa yikufudumala.
Wawuzwa umzimba wakhe wonke uncibilika usiba lokuphila.Weqa kancane wajikajika inqindi etshaya umoya. Hawu! Khwatshu yena!

Akusikuhlakanipha lokhu?

 Watsho ezitshaya isifuba. Wathi ngokuphosa amehlo ngapha ngakuHlalani wathola umfana wabantu eseze wagungubala saxhegu eseliyatshonelwa lilanga lempilo. Kunjalo wazithulela yena watshaya umvoxoxo ekhuza umhlambi wenkomo zakhe. Phela kwakungezi ukuthi achathekele isithutha esinguHlalani icebo lakhe, ngoba nxa yena uHlalani wayengazukuhambelana lalo lelocebo wayezavuka kusasa esemhleka ngakho ebanganini bakhe. Yikho wamtshiya enjalo kwabangesika 'tshana nyamazana yami'.

Akusikuhlakanipha lokhu?

Phela baqhubeka njalo ngohambo lwabo, bathi befika emfuleni uSimphathe bathola ugcwele uphuphuma uthwele izihlahla lezigodogodo.

"Kuzamele sibambe imisila yenkomo ukuze senelise ukweqa umfula Hlalani!"

Kwatsho uMpundule ebamba umsila wenkabi egeleza layo nanguya esiyaphutsha ngaphetsheya komfula. UHlalani waqala ngokuthintela zonke inkomo emfuleni kuqala, ethi ngoba uzabambelela emsileni wenkomo esekucineni. Sezichaphe zonke, ezinye lazo sezisenzikini yomfula wathi mehlo suka uHlalani, wafica ukuthi eyayisisele kwakunguBhantomu inkabi eyayiqunywe umsila ngenxa yesidensi sayo ngesikhathi sokulima. Wazwakala ehlaba umkhosi ethi "ooh, nkosi yami!" Bathi ukukhala akusizi.

Wayesesele ngakuleliyana cele uHlalani. Ngokudana okukhulu wajika wayacela indawo yokulala emizini eyayiseduze lapho. UMpundule wathinta inkomo zonke wadlula etshiya ezikaHlalani ngakibo wadlula ngezakhe wayazivalela waqeda wayakotha umlilo ngekhaya.

"Ngihlakaniphile BraDli" kwaphendula uMpundule ngemva kweside isikhathi.

Wangenisa isandla esambeni seyembe uMadlingozi waphuma ebambe ugwayi kanye lomentshisi wokulibasela. Watshaya umlilo watshisa umhlanga kagwayi wasedlalisa isandla sakhe kanenginengi emoyeni ezama ukucitsha isikhuni somlilo esasingathi laso siphikisana lalokho ayezama ukukwenza. Waze wenza okokusikhafulela amathe kwaba yikucima kwaso. Wabheka ezulwini wavuthela intuthu yaphuma emlonyeni wakhe ingumphongolo wabasengathi useyisitimela samalahle. Umhlanga kagwayi lo mkhulu mqatha ungangevolosi le abekade beyosa le kwashisanyama. Wakhuluma njalo wathi, 'ikhona intaka endiyithanda gqithi ebizwa kuthiwa yingqungqulu'. Wabuye wabuza njalo uMadlingozi wathi, 'yeyiphi intaka oyithandayo wena Mpundulu'?
'Ngumantengwane noma amahlolanyama.' Kwaphendula uMpundule.

Wahleka kakhulu uMadlingozi, ehlekiswa ngulomfana othandana lenyoni ezingazi ngitsho lokuzingela amavevane lokhu.

'Hayi ke Mpundulu, zezakho ezontaka. Mna intaka endiyithandayo yingqungqulu njengoba besendishilo.

Ingqungqulu yintaka engaphezulu kwazo zonke ngoba ingqungqulu inamandla, irhelerhele, iyakhawuleza, inesibindi, inamehlo abukhali, inolwazi olubanzi futhi iyazi ukuzilwela.

Xa unazo zonke ezi zinto ndithetha ngazo, uzoba yinkunzi yamavava okwenyani', kwatsho uMadlingozi etshela uMpundule owayelalele ngazo zombili indlebe.

'Uyabona ke Mpundulu, mna ndiphuma le kweleKoloni eKapa. Nam' ndafika apha eRhawutini Maboneng ndiyimfama ndingazi nala ndiyakhona. Kungekho namntu omnye endimaziyo kodwa ndayivula indlela futhi ndakwazi nokuvula amasango evaliwe.
 
Namhlanje ndim' lo. Xa unaso isibindi, ungesilo vaka, noma indlela inameva uzoya, uye, ibe khona impumelelo nomakanjani. Uyandiva mfanawami?' Kubuza uMadlingozi.

'Yini engingayenza BraDli? Lawe uyazi ukuthi ngithwele nzima kanjani BraDli. UPeggy ungigcinile kuhle sibili kodwa kuzaze kube nini ngilokhu ngisidla yena. Futhi uPeggy kangazi lami angimazi. Asihlobani ngitsho lakancane.' Kukhala uMpundule.

'Sulila Mpundulu. UPeggy ungumntu onobubele. Ukugcine ngentliziyo yakhe yonke. Qha ma ndibona ngathi selifikile ixesha lokuba uziphandele ngokwakho njengawo wonke amagents. Ukhulile. Uzile apha eJozi. Ubonile.'
'Mina ngilaso isibindi sibili BraDli kodwa angikwazi ukuthi ngingaqala ngaphi ngoba angazi lutho ngempilo yaseGoli.' Kuphendula uMpundule.

'Usuthetha ngoku mtshana. Usuthetha njengendoda yamanyani hayi inkwenkwana. Bathi indoda ingawa namhlanje kodwa kusasa iphinde ivuke.

Uphansi namhlanje Mpundulu kodwa ngomso ungabe sewuqhuba isilahlamantente esifana nesi esam' okanye esibhetele. Zikhona ezintsha abazibiza ngama M5. Zenzelwe ukuthengiselwa wena nam' futhi.' Wayengasahlalisekanga uMpundule esetshudula okungapheliyo, igazi seligijima, umzimba ulume. Ayenwaye umzimba wonke, ayenwaye lekhanda.

'Mina ngitshela Bra ukuthi ngenzeni kuphela. Okunengi kuzazenza.' Kutsho uMpundule

'Hayi ke kwedini, njengoba usho wena uba unaso isibindi...' Engakaqedi uMadlingozi, wayesemqume umlomo futhi uMpundule.
'Ngilesengweya isibindi BraDli.'

Ome ngohleko uMadlingozi.

'Khona akulula ngolohlobo kwedini. Njengoba besendishilo ngaphambilini uba indlela yakhona inameva iyahlaba. Ayingabo bonke abaphumayo.

Abanye isuke ibahlabe imphefumulo yabo iye iphelele apho. Qha ke xa wena uzimisele manyani ndizakubonisa indlela. Uziphandele ngokwakho.'

'Ngingathaba njani BraDli!'

Baphuma lapho emoteni baya lapha okutshiswa khona inyama. Wathi lapho ma eqhamuka uMadlingozi kwanyakaza wonke umuntu. Phela uyaziwa njalo uyesatshwa.
Yingwenya kulendawo lakwezinye futhi indawo ezikude le. Wabiza inyama, ivolosi kanye lepapa. Ngokuphazima kweso kwasekugeziswe amatafula lokudla kwasekukhona. Wakhipha imali enkulu uMadlingozi wezwakala njalo esithi kubomama benyama, 'Keep change'.

Wonke umuntu owayefika lapho wayembingelela ngendllela yakhe eyehlukileyo.

'Ola BraDli' 'Etha BraDli'. 'Tha BraDli' 'Seven phezulu BraDli, Zishangani BraDli', njalo njalo.

UMpundule ebona konke lokhu wasondela kuMadlingozi wanyenyeza endlebeni wathi ,
'Hayi, ubaphethe Bra'. Waphendula ebobotheka uMadlingozi wathi,
'Is'tayela ngumlahlo mfanawami, kanti nawe ungasiphatha eso stayela sakhona".
Esizwa lokhu uMpundule wezwa inhliziyo yakhe isiba mhlophe kodwa njalo wabona isikhathi simhambela okonwabu. Phela yena nguye owayesephambi kwesikhathi.
Baqeda.

Babuyela emoteni uMadlingozi loMpundule. Bahlala phakathi kwayo iBMW, ilahlile amathende kutshayelela umoya phakathi.
'Yebo ke Mpundulu. Besisaphethe lancoko yethu. Njengoba ubuke wabuza ukuthi mna ndiyithola kanjani imali. Ndiyaphanda sana. Uzimisele na ukusebenza nam'? Kubuza uMadlingozi.
'Kakhulu BraDli, kakhulu bra yami,' kugcizelela uMpundule.

'Kukahle ke. Kodwa ikhona into omele uyazi. Nami ndiyisisebenzi Mpundulu. Xa uzimisele ukusebenza namagenge, ndizothetha noboss wami. Andimazi nami njalo akekho omaziyo kithina izisebenzi. Sikholela kuye siphinde sikhonze nje. Simbiza ngoLizwi ngoba izwi lakhe yilona qha esilaziyo.

Ndizawuthetha naye ndimxelele uba kukhona umfana ofuna ukuphangela kunye nathi. Nguyena ke ozokufaka kuvavanyo, asho futhi uba uzophangela namagenge okanye hayi. Kodwa isixwayiso endinaso kuwe kukuba uyazi uba lomsebenzi wethu ufana ngqa nokubasempini Mpundulu. Kanene bekukhe kwabakho impi eZimbabwe?'

'Yebo ,kodwa mina ngizelwe isiphelile...' kuphendula uMpundule.

'Hayike, akusenani. Umntu uyayifunda noba ivaliwe. Ndizaw'za mna ke ngomsombuluko xabe sendithethe noLizwi.' Bahamba. UMadlingozi wedlula etshiya uMpundule eflethini likaPeggy. UMadlingozi wathatha uPeggy bayalala ngasendlini yakhe.
 Kwajula emqondweni kaMpundule, wambheka uPeggy ngelihlo lenqondo, wambona efana xathu lensedlu, phela yona ikubizela uluju kanti futhi ingakwenza uzibone usujamelane lenkalakatha yephimpi ongazi ukuthi uzalibulawelwa ngubani.
Kwakusiba ngcono kuMpundule ma uPeggy ethe wathengwa nguMadlingozi ngoba uMpundule wayelithola ithuba lokulala aze akleze impisi.

Ngelilandelayo ilanga uMadlingozi wathi esezoletha uPeggy eflethini, wathatha uMpundule bahamba bayakwashisa nyama. Beqeda ukudla baya emoteni. Namhlanje kayilahlanga amathende iBMW ngoba kukhona ithambo abafanele ukulihlafuna bobabili.
Bahleli phakathi kushaya ingoma yomhlabeleli wodumo emelika abathi nguDokotela DRE.

Noma nje isilungu engasazi kakhulu kodwa wayesizwa uMpundule ukuthi lingoma isebenzisa amagama anzima, akhuluma ngodlame, ukudutshulwa kwamapholisa labamhlophe. Odadewethu bona babizwa ngamagama atsho abesifazana abangaziphathanga ngendlela eqondileyo.

Wakhumbula uPeggy inhliziyo yakhe yaqala ukuba buhlungu. Kambe intombi enhle kangaka yenziwa yini ukuze iphile ngokuthengisa umzimba wayo. Phela esakhula babetshelwa ensontweni ukubana umzimba womuntu lithempele likankulunkulu.
Lombalisi wemfundo yakuqala wayebaxwayisa njalo nje ngomkhuhlane lo oza ngokuthelelana kwabantu ngamagcikwane engculaza. Umkhuhlane ungumashayabhuqe. Umatshabalalisa. Awelapheki!

Lapho uMadlingozi yena wayehleli esihlalweni sakhe ayesifuqile salalela ngemuva. Waqala ukukhuluma. 'Ndithethe naye uLizwi Mpundulu. Undixelele uba uvavanyo lwakho luzobakho namhlanje. Uzoqala khona ngoku. Into endizokuxelela yona kuk'ba xa uthetha naye ungothuki futhi ungaqhaqhazeli. Ungakwenza lokho awuzukuwufumana umsebenzi. Andithi uyandiva?' Engakaphenduli uMpundule lwakhala ucingo luka Madlingozi.

Waluphendula. 'Yebo boss. Ewe ndinaye ngoku. Ewe. Bamba kanjalo boss'. Waqhuba ucingo kuMpundule.

'Salibonani', kubingelela uMpundule. Ilizwi elamphendulayo lenza uMpundule waphunyukwa lucingo lwawela phansi enyaweni zakhe. Waphanga waphumputha waze waludobha. Wahlangana njalo lelizwi leliyana eliqaqambayo njengezulu lesiqotho.

'Ngithe ungubani igama lakho?'
'NginguMpundule baba'.
Uhleko olwaqhamuka luvela kuLizwi lwenza uMpundule wacabanga ukuthi mhlawumbe ukhuluma lomlimu.

Lelizwi ubungathi ngumhlobo wendiza lo abathi yihelikhophutha, layo indizela phansi duze lendlebe zakhe. Kwabangani loluhleko luqhubeka umnnyaka wonke. Wayeseginqe esemanzi nte uMpundule.

'Yebo ke Mpundulu'. Kubonakala bonke abantu bambiza ngoMpundulu lapha eGoli.
'Uzimisele ukusebenza na?' Kubuza uLizwi.
'Yebo ngizimisele.'
'Uzimisele ukungisebenzela?' Kubuza uLizwi njalo.
'Yebo ngizimisele.'
'Uzimisele ukusebenza nalezimvana zami na?'
'Yebo ngizimisele'.
'Uzimisele ukuzisebenzela wena wedwa na?' Wabuza njalo uLizwi.
'Yebo ngizimisele.'
'Kulungile ke. Ipha uMadlingozi ucingo.' Wenza njalo uMpundule. Eselwamukele wezwakala ethi uMadlingozi, 'Code Thalibhani. Standby.'
Walubeka phansi. Wakhangela ngakuMpundule wathi.

'Usuphumelele.' Watsho encuma. Waqhubeka wathi, 'kodwa ke yazi uba eli lihlandla lakuqala qha. Sesingena kuhlandla lesibini khona ngoku, futhi alilo elokugqibela. Uzimisele na?'
'Ngizimisele.' Kutsho uMpundule

Wasusa imota uMadlingozi bahamba. Bathi ma befika phambili wema uMadlingozi. Waphuma emoteni. Wavula isivalo sangemuva wakhipha icence elalilotshwe inombolo zemota ezehlukileyo kulezi ezesilahlamathende abahamba ngaso. Walifaka phambili.
Wenza njalo langemuva. Yayisile nombolo ezintsha lemota. Wayidumisa imota baqhubeka okwemizuzwana. Wema njalo.

'Amhlophe Mpundulu ngokuphumelela ehlandleni lakuqala. Ihlandla lesibili liqala apha ngoku. Uzimisele?'
Waphendula uMpundule wathi. 'Yebo ngizimisele'.

Weyama ngemuva uMadlingozi waphakamisa isihlalo semota kancane wahwatsha isibhamu sohlobo lwe 9mm. Wasiqhuba kuMpundule. Waginqa wajuluka umfana. Wafikelwa ngumhedehede, wafuna ukuya ngasesambuzini.

'Uyalibona eliya venkeli eliphambili phayana?' Kubuza uMadlingozi. Wavuma ngekhanda uMpundule. 'NgeloMndiya. Ngoku lelona xesha abala ngayo inyuku, inzuzo yakhe yanamhlanje.

Yikho ke kuzofanele uyoyifumana lamali. Ungaphumelela. Ungabotshwa okanye ufe. Yonke lonto izawuvela ngemva kwemizuzwana embalwa nje. Ixesha lakho liqala ngoku.' Watsho emvulela isivalo semota ukubana aphume uMpundule.

Wayengathi umzwela kude le nxa uMadlingozi ekhuluma. Kungathi liphupho nje. Wathi uyathalaza ngapha kuMadlingozi wamthola embheke ebusweni. Akusenguye lowayana amaziyo. Wayengasenguye lowana ohlala ebobotheka. Wayesengumehlwemamba, engasacwayizi lokucwayiza.

'Khawuleza uyothatha lamali sigoduke'. Watsho emfuqela phandle.

Weqa uMpundule kwangathi usefikelwe lidlozi lakubo. Weqa umgwaqo wangena evinkilini loMndiya engasadlanga nkotshana zamuntu.

Wathi ma engena wahlangabezwa yilelo Ndiya licwile ngemuva libala imali yalo. Dukuduku wasikhipha isibhamu wakhombela ekhanda loMndiya.
'Fuseki wena! Letha yonke leyo mali. Masinyane. Ngizakudubula unjani wena kanti! Letha!'

UMndiya woma qha. Wanganyakazi okwesikhatshana. Ngemvana kwesikhatshana wathi akasukume uMndiya.

Waphaphalaza wasidonsa isibhamu uMpundule kwagcwala ubuchopho indawo yonke.

Wadobha isaka lemali waphuma waphela umfana. Ngesiqubu waqonda emoteni. Esafake unyawo olulodwa nje phakathi kwemota, yayisivele isiphapha iBMW.

Bayangasendlini kaMadlingozi eyayiseGrayston Drive eSandton. Wathi engena endlini uMpundule wacabanga ukuthi mhlawumbe bazovakatshela utata uMandela.

Izihlalo ezibutofotofo ezesikhumba samampela. Kulomabonakude omkhulu ongangebhayisikopo onanyathiselwe emdulwini. Izibane kulendlu yibulilili. Wathi uyalunguza phandle wabona isiziba sokubhukutsha esakhiwa sagonyuluka njengenyoka.
 Phandle njalo kumi izimota ezinhlanu ezohlobo angakaze alubone uMpundule. Amaferari, mesedisi, lambogina lezinye.

'Lilo ke eli idladla likaBraDli mfanawami. Kukanti nawe unganalo elakho elifana neli xa ungaqhubeka uphangela'. Kwatsho uMadlingozi. Wayesephelelwe ngamazwi uMpundule.

Bayibala imali. Bathola isedlula inkulungwane ezilitshumi zamarandi. Wadobha ucingo uMadlingozi watshayela uLizwi.

'Over! Over! 1 2 5 Success rate! Code Bhanyamulenge. Standby'
Walubeka phansi njalo.

Waphinda wamthatha njalo uMpundule wayambonisa enye futhi indawo. Kwaba ngesifanayo. Wabamba njalo uMpundule. Sevele sengumuntu ophila ngegazi labafo. Ngemva kwenyanga nje wakhipha inkalakatha yemali wayipha uPeggy njengesibongo ngoba yena wayesethenge eyakhe indlu.

'Peggy nayi inyuku. Ngiyakubonga mpela umusa wakho ongangolwandle. Uthixo aze akubusise ne.'

Wayesethenge esakhe isilahlamatende se BMW 325 inqola yabafana phela, esecwebezela efake ubucwebe obudulayo. Waqala ngokutshaya ezakibo ingoma kodwa kwaya watshiyana laboNdux Malax, wangena kwezeMelika oDMX. 

ISAHLUKO 4 : Linda ngoLwesithathu oluzayo

THENGA:  Igazi Labafo kuInternet

---

Dedications

Many thanks go to those who made significant contributions to the accomplishment of this novel.

Marilyne Nhlanhla Sibanda (Johannesburg, SA)
Cornellius Mnguni (Newcastle, UK)
Obey Maphosa (Newcastle, UK),
Sibonokuhle Ngwenya (Newcastle, UK),
Ebbie Mberengwa (Francistown, Botswana),
Biatha Kumile (Toronto, Canada),
Matiwaza Ncube (Derbyshire, UK),
Simangele Ncube-Mkandla (London, UK)
Clive CJ Mlalazi (Birmingham, UK)
Mxolisi Ndlovu (Stockton – on – Tees, UK)

Special Dedications

To Tsepiso and Glenn; our relationship taught me one thing; True love does exist!
To my family. Keep on being as solid as a shinning diamond.
As the saying goes; Ukwanda kwaliwa ngabathakathi, A little help goes a long way.

---