Nosdima Sam

Igama lam nguNosdima Sam. Ndazalwa ngonyaka ka 1963 kwilali yaseNdlovini eQoboqobo^[1]. Ndingumama wabantwana abathandathu endihlala nabo ndibakhulisa.

Ingulo ngamnye unezinto zakhe ezimchaza ubunjani bakhe yena siqu. UBabalwa, izibulo lam elithetha kakhulu lazalwa ngo1984. Alandelwe nguNomzi owazalwa ngonyaka olandelayo, yena ungumntu owahlukeneyo kuBabalwa. Unentloni, unentloni kangangokuba ungacinga ukuba umkhubekisile kangangendlela athetha kancinci ngayo. Umntwana wam wesithathu naye oyintombazana uSiphokazi wazalwa ngo1989. Wazalwa ekhubazekile engakwazi kuhamba nakuthetha. Emveni kwakhe kuze uSakele yena owazalwa ngo 1995.

Unyaka nje emva kokuba ezelwe, uSakele wagula kakhulu wathunyelwa esibhedlele eKapa. Wayenomhlaza wobuchopho kumele ukuba ayohlinzwa. Ndicinga ukuba ngokuya ndandimnkile ndiyokunakekela uSakele, uSiphokazi wayecinga ukuba ndimshiyile. Wagula kakhulu ngoku ndiseKapa noSakele. Ndabuya ekhaya ndizokutya ikrismesi nonyaka omtsha nabo. Kodwa emva kosuku lokuqala lonyaka omtsha ka 1997, uSiphokazi wasweleka. Ndiziva ndinetyala ngesosganeko kodwa andifuni kuthetha ngaso mgoku.

USakele unokugula ngamanye amaxesha ngenxa yalamhlaza wobuchopho wayenawo kodwa ngoku uphilile. Undwebile, angathetha nawe noba akakwazi. Emva kwakhe kulandela amawele, inkwenkwe nentombazana uLiyabonga no Lona. Ngamancoko amakhulu bayakuthanda ukuqhula kodwa xa kuthethwa ngomsebenzi ngamavila okugqibela.

Bonke abantwana bam bakwazi ukuya esikolweni ngoba kwizikolo zamabanga aphantsi imfundo yeyasimahla, kumabanga aphezulu basebenza kanzima bafumana inkxaso yofundiso.

Ndihlala nomyeni, nabantwana bam nabazukulwana, ingxubevange nje yabantu abanobuntu obahlukeneyo. Amawele ayathanda ukuqhula kakhulu, uNomzi noBabalwa basebenza kakhulu ze uSakele yena azithandele nje ukudlala. Umyeni wam yena akabikho ekhaya ubukhulu becala ngoba ugcina isikolo iMthwaku High School, akafane abekho.

Ndikwanabazukulwana ababini, omnye kuBabalwa omnye kuNomzi. Abazukulwana bam bayathanda ukusebenza esitiyeni kodwa xa ndityala naxa ndihlakula qha, hayi xa ndilungisa umhlaba.

Umhlaba apha wawungekho nzima xa uqala ukulima. Ndazenzela yonke into ngokwam ngoncedo lwabantwana bam. Kananjalo ndivuka ekuseni ndenzele abantwana bam ukutya phambi kokuba baye esikolweni. Emva kokubenzela ukutya ndenza umsebenzi wasendlini ndithi ndakugqiba konke oko ndiye esitiyeni.

Umbangi-qhushululu omncinci

Ndandinodade noobhuti ababini, kodwa udadethu nomnye umntakwethu basweleka. Ngoku ndisele nomntakwethu kuphela. Ndikhule ndihlala noMakhulu, oobhuti bam babehlala eRhawutini nabazali bam ngoba abazali bam badibana apho ngexa utata esebenza emigodini. Bathe bakuba nabantwana baqhubekeka ukuhlala besebenza phaya. Abantwana basekhaya babesele beqhelile ukuhlala edolophini bengafuni ukuzokuhlala ezilalini.

Ndandingumbangi woqhushululu ndisengumntwana. ERhawutini mna nabantwana basekhaya kwakumele siye esikolweni kodwa ngamanye amaxesha sasingayi. Sasivele sihlale esitalatweni sidlale amakhasi. Kulula ukuphuma endleleni xa ungumntwana elokishini. Sasicinga ukuba sazi konke singalwawuleki. Ndazifaka engxakini enkulu kangangokuba abazali bam bagqiba ekubeni ndimnke eRhawutini ndibuyele eMpuma-Koloni ndiyokuhlala noMakhulu noDabawo. Ndandineminyaka elishumi ukubuyela kwam eQoboqobo ndiyokuhlala noMakhulu wam, osecaleni lakulotata, ndingathi kulapho ndiqale ukufunda khona ngokwenyani.

Ndandindwebile kakhulu ndilincoko lokwenyani kananjalo. Ndandithanda ukuya ehlathini ndiyotheza iinkuni, kodwa akhonto ndandiyithanda nje ngomjuxuzo (i-disco). Ngoko umjuxuzo wawungeyiyo lento sewaba yiyo kulemihla. Ngoko umjuxuzo wawusetyinziswa ukucela amalizo ukuxhasa amaqela ezemidlalo, amaqela ecawe nezinye izidingo zomphakathi. Sasingaseli tywala singasebenzisi ziyobisi kwezi ziganeko. Izinto ezingamandla yayingumculo, ukujuxuza nokutya. Kungoko ke abazali babengafani bale xa umntwana ecela ukuya emjuxuzweni.

Ndandiliva igazi lam libila

Ndafudukela eQoboqobo ukusuka eRhawutini ngo 1973 ukuzokufunda ibanga lokuqala. Kwathi ngo1975 emva kwexesha ndabuyela eRhawutini ngoba umama wayengaphilanga. Ngo1976, saqala isikolo nabantwana basekhaya kodwa yayilixesha elibi ngoba kungexesha apha abantwana besikolo base Soweto bevukela uRhulumente^[2], Abantu babenomsindo ngoba abantwana abaninzi badutyulwa bedutyulelwa ukuvukela uRhulumente wengcinezelo.

Isikolo sethu samabanga aphantsi sasisondelene kakhulu kusambanga aphezulu apho abafundi badutyulwa khona, nam ke ndaya ndayongenela umbhikisho. Ndandidla ngokungenela imibhikisho, ndisemncinci, inoba ndandineminyaka esibhozo okanye esithoba. Yayindichaza nyani imibhikisho kangangokuba ndandiyilandela naphi apho ikhoyo nasebusuku.

Kukho into ngobumbano endenza ndifune ukuba yinxalenye yalo. Ndandiliva igazi lam libila xa izihlwele zabanfundi zicula. Into endandiyiqonda ngoko kukuba sasilwela inkululeko kuRhulemente wengcinezelo futhi silwela isinyanzeliso sokufunda nge-Afrikaans. Ukunyanzeliswa ukuba sifunde ngolwimi lwe-Afrikaans yayiyenye intlobo yocinezelo. Sasifunda zonke izifundo nge Afrikaans iyeyona nto abafundi abamnyama ababefuna ukuyiphelisa. Abantwana abadala kwisikolo samabanga aphakamileyo babethetha ngezizinto besicacisela ukuba uqhanqalazo lwabo yindlela yokulwa esi sinyazeliso solwimi lweAfrikaans

Ndikhumbula ngenye imini siseklasini esikolweni. Abantwana abasuka kwisikolo samabanga aphezulu avela agaleleka eklasini yethu. Abanye babengena ngeefestile. Babebaleka amapolisa neenkqwelo zawo esasizibiza ngokuthi ziihipo. Ngoba zazifana nesosilwanyana. Njengoba bebaleka bengena aklasini babezigibisela ngamatye ezi-hippo. Zange sibuze mibuzo nathi sagibisela amatye.

Xa siphuma esikolweni sasingaphumi ngesango langaphambili ngoba kwakukho iinkqwelo (hippo) zamapolisa apho. Into esasiyenza kukuba sitsibe ucingo kodwa kwakungelulanga. Amapolisa kwiinkqwelo zabo babesikhwaza besibiza ngamagama. Babesithi siziKaffir^[3] futhi besidubula, zange sime saqhubeka sabaleka sisiwa sivuka sizama ukumnka apho.

Emva kwezi ziganeko, abazali bam bagqiba ekubeni kwakukhuselekile ukuba ndibuyele eMpuma Koloni. Ngo 1977 ndibuyele, ndiqhubeke nezifundo zam, phakathi kweNdlovini ne Saint Mathew’s High School.

Iinkumbulo zam zokuqala zokukhulisa ukutya

Andazi kuyaphi ngembali yekhaya lam okanye eyomphakathi wam. Kodwa uMakhulu wayehlala endixelela ukuba ngamaxesha abo bakhule belima futhi babengakuthengi ukutya okusisiseko evenkileni. Babethenga kuphela oko bangakwaziyo ukulima. Wandifundisa ukuba ikhaya lingakwazi ukuziphilisa ngokulima.

Ndisengumntwana sasilima ukutya, kude kufutshane nendlu kamakhulu kumhlaba nje omncinci, itswele nomfino ikakhulu. Eneneni ngumama umntu wokuqala ukundifundisa ukulima kumhlatyana nje omncinci abazali bam ababenawo eRhawutini, ndineminyaka emithandathu. Umama wayelima umfino, ikhaphetsu nethanga. Enye yenkumbulo zam ngokulima ukutya kumhla ndaphumelela ukhuphiswano lokhuliso lokutya esasithatha inxaxheba kulo sisengabantwana esitiyeni sasesikolweni. Ndiseneminyaka eyi14. Ndandingafuni ukuhlulwa ndandiqinisekisa ukuba ndiyabadlula bonke. Ukuphumelela kwam ukhuphiswano imbasa yayitawuli nesepha. Ungumntwana ngeloxesha yayinto enkulu ukususela ngeloxesha ndazixelala ukuba ndiyakuhlala ndigqwesa.

Xa ndijonga emva ndijonga umahluko Phakathi kobomi bam eRhawuttini nobom bam eMpuma Koloni ndikhetha ubom baseMpuma Koloni. Singabantwana sasikwazi ukuya naphi apho sifuna ukuya khona elalini, loxa eRhawutini ulinganiselwe ngoba funeka ucinge ngeemoto, ngamapolisa nangokudutyulwa. Yayingeyondawo imnandi yokuphila.

Nangoku ndimdala ndiziva kanjalo ngeRahwuti. Edolophini funeka uqeshe indlu, ubhatale amanzi nombane. Apha ezilalini zaseMpuma Koloni sinezindlu zethu esazikhelayo. Uya ehlathini uzenzele iipali ubuye uzakhele indlu yakho. Amanzi siwafumana emithonjeni.

Nekhaya lam

Ndandiseskolweni udibana kwam nomyeni wam. Sasikwibanga leshumi elinanye ukudibana kwethu kodwa wayeka, wayokufuna umsebenzi. Wayegodukile ngenye imini wandimema ukuba ndiyobona kowabo. Ndandiye pha ndicinga ukuba ndiya kwiholide. Kodwa sathi sakufika wathetha ngomtshato yaba andigoduki.

Saqala kanjalo ukuhlala kunye, ngo1993, abazali bam babengazi ukuba nditshatiwe okanye ndihlala nomntu njengomfazi ngoba zange kubekho ntethiswano phakathi kwamakhaya amabini. Emva kwenyanga abantu bakowabo baya ekhaya ukwazisa abazali bam ukuba ndihlala nonyana wabo kulapho kea pho kwaqalwa ukuba ingxoxo zeloboba^[4]. Noxa ngoku umtshato ngelobola kuphela ingathi ngumnqa ngoko yayisiqhelo.

Ndiphile kamnandi noMakhulu noMalumekazi eMpuma Koloni kwade kwafika ixesha lokusweleka kukamama ngo1993. Utata usweleke mva yena ngo2006. Zange kubekho zinguqu zingako kum emva kokusweleka kukamama ngoba ixesha elikhulu lobuntwana bam ndilichithe noMakhulu noMalumekazi kunomama. Xa ndiseRhawutini kungona ndifance ndicinge nomama kodwa xa ndiseMpuma Koloni ndicinga kakhulu ngoMakhulu noMalumekazi. UMakhulu wasweleka ngo1999. Emva kokusweleka kukaMakhulu intsika yobom bam yaba nguMalumekazi wam. Noxa ndanditshatile ndinekhaya lam, ndaqhubeka ukufumana uthando nenkxaso kaMalumekazi.

Ndinethemba lokuba abantwana bam bayakwakha ubuhlobo obuluqilima ukuze bakwazi ukuxhasana bancedisane ngamaxesha kaxakeka. Aba basesikolweni ndinqwenela ukuba bangaphumelela kwizifundo zabo baphemelele nasebomini. Kuyandivuyiswa ukwazi ukuba abantwana bam banomdla emhlabeni nasekulimeni ukutya. Nalo ungaphilanga ncam uyasebenza esitiyeni. Namavila la am ngabo abancenceshela izityalo.

Ukuba kukho umntu ofuna umhlaba

Umzi kaMakhulu apho ndikhulele khona awukho kude nalapha ndihlala khona, xa ndikulelali ndiziva ngathi ndisekhaya ngawo onke amaxesha. Lo mhlaba ngowomyeni wam wawunikwa yinkosi nebhunga lomhlaba lalapha ekuhlaleni. Ndiyalonwabela nyani ikhaya lam, ndiziva ndikhululekile apha ngoba asityali mntu.

Ukuba kukho umntu ofuna umhlaba kulendawo kumele ayothetha nenkosi, Funeka axelele inkosi ukuba ungubani usuka phi nokuba kutheni enomdla wokuzokuhlala apha. Ndicinga yeyona ndlela ilungileyo yokucela umhlaba ngoba ngalondlela unganqanda ubukrelemnqa ngokungavumeli wonke umntu ukuba azokuhlala apha. Ikwathetha ukuba abantu bangafumana umhlaba bengawuthenganga, ukwenzela ukuba ingabi zizigwili kuphela ezibanomhlaba.

Phambi kokuba inkosi ithathe isigqibo, Ibiza amalungu omphakathi aze lowo uzocela umhlaba azazise achaze ukuba kutheni efuna ukuzokuhlala kulengingqi emphakathini ukuze bazivele. Ukuba lo mntu ufuna umhlaba unomntu amaziyo apha ekuhlaleni oko kubaluncendo ngoba lomntu uyakwazi ukumngqinela.

Xa ndibona umhlaba ndibona ithuba

Ndiqale ukuhlala nokulima kulomhlaba waseNdlovini, eQoboqobo ngo 2007. Kulendlela yam yokulima yangoku ndilima umfino, ikhaphetshu, itswele, ithanga nebhitrut. Ndingangabi nemveliso enkulu kodwa ndivuna okulinageneyo ukondla ikhaya lam ndiphe nabamelwane abangalimiyo okanye abangenakutya. UMakhulu wandifundisa ukusenga igusha, ibhokwe nenkomo. Ngoku ndiyazisengela ubisi lweebhokwe neenkomo zam ngokwam.

I am not sure how large the land I farm on is — maybe half an acre? When I think about the land, I feel very happy because when I see the land, I see the opportunity of growing food – food that can help me to survive when I sell it.

Andiqinisekanga ngobungakanani balomhlaba ndiwulimayo. Xa ndicinga ngomhlaba ndiyonwaba kakhulu ngoba xa ndibona umhlaba ndibona amathuba okulima ukutya-ukutya endingakuthengisa ndikwazi ukuphila.

Ndilima ngokwendalo kuphela. Ndifunde ukulima ngendlela yendalo kumbutho walapha ekuhlaleni oshumayela ulimo olungenazikhemikhali obizwa ngokuba yiSiyakholwa^[5]. Ndawungenela lombutho ngo2010.

Siyakholwa isifundise indlela youkulima izityalo ezahlukeneyo endaweni enye. Xa ulima imifuno kubalulekile ukuba uyixube- xa utyale umgca wetswele wulandelise ngomgca womnqathi olandelayo ufake ibhitrut uphinde uthi tswele njalo njalo.

Omnye umcelimngeni endinawo kukunqaba kwamanzi. Ukuzama ukuyisombulula le ngxaki ndiya emlanjeni ukuyokha amanzi okuncenceshela ndiphinde ndikhongozele amanzi emvula ngezimbombozi uzibona zither saa kwesisitiya. Ndiphinda ndikhathazwe kakhulu ziintuku ngoba zitya izityalo kwaye andikafumani cebo lazo.

Izityalo zabo zibuthathaka

Kulelali kukho abantu abalima ngezichumisi zekhemikali kubekho abo bachumisa ngomgquba. Abo basebenzisa izichumisi zeekhemikali bathi ‘’Sidinga izichumisi zekhemikali ukuchumisa umhlaba wethu ngoba awuchumanga ngokwaneleyo.’’ Esinye sesizathu soku kukuba lomhlaba sowonakalisiwe zezikhemikali kakade.

Ngelishwa kubo, abavelisi isivuno esodlula esabo balima ngokwendalo. Esinye isizathu soku kukuba xa izityalo zabo zihlaselwa zizinambuzane abakwazi kuzikhusela ngoba abanamali yaneleyo yokuthenga zonke iikhemikali ezifunekayo kulimo lweekhamikali. Izityalo zabo zibuthathaka kakhulu, nto leyo yenza ukuba kubelula ukuba izityalo zabo zihlaselwe ukodlula ezethu.

Akupheleli nje apho kuphela. Xa abantu besebenzisa izichumisi neekhemikali emasimini abo ngabathengisi abazuzayo hayi abalimi. Abantu abamele batye le mveliso ngabona balimala kakhulu ngoba ukutya kwabo kunekhemikali ezinobuzaza.

Umhlaba ngumhlobo ongummangaliso

Umhlaba ayiyonto nje, uyaphila. Okufakayo kuwo koku ukufumanayo. Akho nto ungayenza ngaphandle komhlaba. Siyakha emhlabeni, siyalima, nemfuyo iphiliswa ngumhlaba.

Ndibona umhlaba njengomhlobo ongummangaliso ngoba undikhathalele. Ukutya okusuka kulomhlaba kondla umzimba nomphefumlo wam, kungoko uqhagamshelwano phakathi kwam nomhlaba luliqilima kangaka. Ndiyonwaba kakhulu xa ndisebenza umhlaba ngoba ndiyayazi inzuzo endizakuyifumana.

Xa ndisbenza ngomhlaba ndithanda ivumba lwawo. Ndingawutya nokuwutya umhlaba. Ndigqiba ukufumanisa ukubaluleka kokulungisa phambi kokuba uwulime kangangokuba ngamanye amaxesha andifuni nokuya endlini ebusuku.

Ndigqiba ukuqaphela ukuba xa ndisebenza esitiyeni sinceda ingqondo yam ukuba ingabe iyabula ikhathezeka ngento yonke. Ukusuka kwethu emzini wam ukuza apha ngo 2007 umyeni wam wayengasebenzi, yayilixesha elinzima kakhulu. Kungeloxesha Kanye apho ndaqonda ukuba kufuneka ndilime ukuze ndikwazi ukondla ikhaya lam. Ndandilala ixesha elincinci kakhulu ndivuka ngonyezi ndiyokulima ndiye esitiyeni. Ndandichitha intsasa yam nenjikalanga esitiyeni. Yayindigcina ndixakekile.

Umnqweno wam

Ndingathanda ukuba abantwana bam nabazukulwana bam bangakwazi ukuzimela bazihoye bangathembeli kwabanye abantu. Kumele bazimele kodwa bakwazi ukuphila nabanye abantu. Ndibanqwenelela ukuba bangakha ubuhlobo obuhle nabanye abantu baluxabise uluntu. Ndinqwenela ukuba bazikhulisele ukutya futhi bazi ukubaluleka koko baludlulise olo lwazi kwabanye.

Inga umphakathi wethu ungasondelelana. Inga singavana, sixhasane sicebisane, sikhuthaze indlela ezisempilweni zokukhulisa ukutya ezitiyeni zethu ukwenzela ukuba singanexesha elaneleyo lokujolisa ezitiyeni zethu singabi naxesha lokulwa. Xa abantu beswele into yokwenza babanexesha elininzi lokuhlebana, nto leyo eyakha ingxabano nabamelwane. Ndiyibona qho lonto kulelali.

Ndicinga futhi ndikholelwa ukuba indlala nentlupheko zingenziwa bubuvila, ngoba xa unesitiya ungayiphepha indlala. Ndingeva ngomntu ongakwazi ukusebenza emasimini ngoba engenazo izixhobo. Kodwa isitiya sakho sikwalapha ekhayeni lakho kwaye awudingi umhlaba omninzi.

Ndithemba ukuba xa nmnkile kulomhlaba abantwana bam nabazukulwana bam bayakundikhumbula ngokuthetha kwam neengcebiso endihlala ndibapha zona. Ndithemba ukuba bangakhumbula ukuba ndandungafuni bathembele kwabanye abantu nokuba ukusebenza nzima buyakubaqhuba ebomini.

1. eQoboqobo(Keiskammahoek) yidolophu encinci eseMpuma Koloni, eMzantsi Afrika.ENdlovini yilali eyakhiwe encochoyini kulenginqi.
2. Uvukelo lwabafundi (Soweto Student Uprising) yaqala ngentsasa kwinyanga nomhla ka June 16, 1976, apho abantwana bezikolo eSoweto eyinxalenye yase Gauteng,bevukela umbuso ngokuthi baphumele ezitalatweni beqhanqalezela ukunyanzeliswa ukuba izifundo zonke zibengolwimi lwe Afrikaans. Bahlangatyezwa ngobundlobongela ngamapolisa,lonto yakhokeleya kuninzi lusweleke. Ingxelo ephangaleleyo iyafumaneka apha: https://www.worldatlas.com/articles/what-happened-during-the-soweto-student-uprising-in-south-africa.html (accessed November 7, 2018).
3. Eligama lithi “kaffir” lisetyenziswa kubanti abamnyama linentsingiselo yobuhlanga. Lisukela kwixesha laphambi kobu Koloni lingafaniswa neligama lithi "negro." Apha eNtshona Afrika,kutshanje eligama lasenteynziswa ukwahlula uhlanga lwa Bantu. Ingcaciso ngokubanzi yijonge apha: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kaffir_(racial_term) (accessed November 7, 2018).
4. Ngaphambili phaya, ebeNguni baseNtshona yeAfrika babesebenzisa oluhlobo kuthiwa yilobola  — ukubhatala kwikhaya lentombi leyo izakutshata kusakhiwa ubuhlobo kwezintsapho zimbini, iyafana ngalendlela isetyenziswa entshona kuthiwa yi “dowries”— yahluke ngezinto zimbini :Kwilobolo kwabelwana ngemihlambi yenkomo kwaye isuka kwikhaya lomfana ozakutshata eyisa kulontombi azakuyitshata. Ingcaciso ngakumbi ungajonga apha: https://www.google.co.za/search?biw=1216&bih=670&ei=f3XtW_n6N4OMsAHd8oDoBw&q=lobola+negotiations&oq=lobola+negotiations&gs_l=psy-ab.3..0l10.3979.7374.0.9888.13.8.0.5.5.0.474.1094.2-1j1j1.3.0....0...1c.1.64.psy-ab..6.7.636....0.0GxmfEceEt4 (accessed November 7, 2018).
5. Siyakholwa yinkqubo yezophuhliso lwabalimi apho kuxhotyiswa abalimi kunye noluntu kwinginqi yase Qoboqobo,eMpuma Koloni.Siyakholwa wasekelwa ngonyka ka 2011 ukuba uxhase kwaye uncedise iproject ezibonakalisa inkuthazo nokuzimela kwezolimo kulenginqgi yaseQoboqobo.Okwangoku usebenzisana nabalimi abayi 60 abasuka kwilali ezingama 37 kulenginqgi. Ngalendlela yokuxhobisa ngezakhono abalimi abasakhasayo ukuba bakwazi ukutyala nokuvelisa ukutya okungcono, bakwazi ukuba bathengisa bakuvelisileyo,ngalendlela iyanceda ukwandisa nokukhulisa imisebenzi.