#day4: In Seshego zone 2 Newtown we used to have minimum or no electricity so we used coal stoves in our homes. I never enjoyed when the fire was being started because my chest would close up and Id cough a lot. It took some great art to be able to start the fire without getting everyone choking on the smoke. We had just gotten a new helper and she wasnt that great with starting a fire. On this particular day, more like late afternoon, the smoke was just too unbearable and I stepped outside and stood by the fence watching people walk past from work to their homes. Then out of the blue an old man appeared and he said hello to me. He was wearing blue work overalls which had a lot of coal residue. So he clearly worked for the local coal delivery company. I wasnt scared or anything, after all I had seen a few people walking up and down the street. Although my parents were not home, Aunty was there to take care of me. So this strange elderly man who was probably in his sixties starts chatting me up. Where is your mom? Where is your dad? And me Miss Friendly is giving him information that theyre not around. Then there was a moment of hesitation on his part and I somehow sensed it. At that point my head said run! and thats when he grabbed me. He was so fast! I was in the yard on the other side of the fence but he grabbed me so fast I had no time to scream. That was also the same time our helper was coming outside to find me. All I heard was her screaming, thušang! Ba utswa ngwana! This elderly man was quick hey, he threw me into a coal sack and ran! Since the sack smelt so bad, I started passing out. During my passed out phase Im told that my parents were called and neighbors gathered to go look for this mai-mai who stole a child. In Seshego kids were not kidnapped for a ransom, they were stolen because it was all about muti and someone wanting luck for their business and needed blood of an innocent child. Anyway, when I came to, I could hear this guy walking around and breathing heavily. I think he was scared and couldnt believe what hed just done. So I just stayed put in the sack and said nothing. I dont know where we were hiding but apparently this guy was waiting for the 10pm bus. We used to call it bus ya makgema because its the last bus of the day. Ntate Shokane who was like the leader of our block, led the search party. And it turned out that he was also a very wise man, just like Pawe. Somehow they knew that this mai-mai was not hiding too far and he would want to get onto the bus. They laid a trap for him. A few neighbors posed as people waiting for that bus and the rest lay low not too far from the bustop. And just like they predicted, guess who pitched at five minutes before 10? The mai-mai and his precious cargo. They let him come closer, almost by the steps of the bus and thats when they nabbed him. Immediately, the whole search party came out of nowhere and they beat this man to a pulp! He was bleeding so much and I remember he had his overalls tied around his waist and his white mesh vest was full of blood. This was some serious mob justice, men were hitting him with hammers, women with heels and they were not letting him go. I remember Pawe pleading with the people to let him be taken to the police station so he gets a fair trial and an opportunity to speak for himself. At this time I was so exhausted but I was an exhibit and couldnt go anywhere. So they walked the mai-mai to the police station and opened a case and immediately they demanded that he appears before the magistrate. By this time were heading for midnight, I keep passing out and this poor criminal is literally bleeding to death. I remember his throat was open, he had wounds all over. I remember angry men hurling insults at him and promising him death, the women still throwing shoes at him. Eventually, the magistrate was ready to see this man. Guess who the magistrate was? Yes, Pawe...dont ask me what happened next or whatever became of this poor man. But it made sense why my father wanted him to be taken to the police station... Next thing I remember is being home, my mom bathing and feeding me. I think I slept for three days, well it seemed very long. But here I am, missed being killed and used as muti. I know its a cool story to tell but Im telling you to remind you how tight our communities used to be. Had it not been for our neighbors I wouldnt be here telling you all this. Even right now I know all the families that lived in our block, from Mahlos and Mokwenas at the top all the way down to the Mojapelos. What were used to now is everybody minding their own business, not knowing who lives next to you. Today, we have kids who have disappeared and we cant find them because we dont know what or who they look like. Pictures are sent but we cant even identify. Some of you lived next to a woman who was gunned down by his boyfriend and you only became aware when police arrived. Some of you, your neighbor got sick and died alone in their house and you only found out two weeks later when police and forensics showed up. It was difficult for thieves to break into your house because when you leave you ask your neighbors son to house-sit. And the community knew all these chancers anyway. This urban life has cost the African in us big time... Do you know your neighbor? #70DaysOfThisAndThat
Posted on: Sat, 25 Oct 2014 21:50:21 +0000
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