Inhliziyo Yami Yopha: My Heart Bleeds

Chapter 45

NIKIWE

Emhlabeni kulawula wena
Ezulwini kulawula wena
Zonk'izinto zilawulwa nguwe
Nkosi yamakhosi
Emhlabeni kulawula wena
Ezulwini kulawula wena
Zonk'izinto zilawulwa nguwe
Nkosi yamakhosi
Siyaku dumisa
Siyaku dumisa
Siyaku dumisa
Nkosi yamakhosi

The singing and hymns die down as the pastor thanks everyone for coming to show love for the deceased. It's such a sad moment right now and I can only imagine how the wife must feel in this exact moment.

I did not know Nkunzi on a personal level but I know how much he meant to Zano and all that he's done for him and I. It's sad that we're all gathered here today because of his passing which was untimely. And by us, I mean all the men and their partners accompanying them.

The men are hurt by his death but I can tell Zano and Thamsanqa are the ones who are devastated by his passing. I think it would have been better had he died because of sickness or natural death, rather than from the hands of another man.

To be honest, I don't understand why people see the need to carry weapons and not only that, but use those exact weapons to harm people who never did them wrong. What pleasure do you get from hurting another person?

This is not the South Africa our ancestors and grandparents fought so hard for when they asked for freedom. I don't think harming or killing each other is what they had in mind when they wanted us to all have equal rights.

But here we are now, living in a country where crime is something that has been normalized. Getting killed for things you worked hard to get or just because a person felt like taking someone's life as if it's a hobby. I hate how our police force and government, is doing nothing solid to decrease our crime and death rates. It's sad to watch us all spiraling down a dark deep hole like senseless human beings.

The funeral was a success though, even under these circumstances. His wife, Phumeza looked so distraught and out of place. As the coffin went underground, she let out a painful cry that had almost everyone else in tears. She sobbed until the grave was fully covered in soil and she just sat there for some time looking into space.

I so badly wanted to get up and hug her but it would have been weird considering she's never met me and doesn’t even know who I am. Oh man, and not to mention his son! The boy looked like he is full of anger and hatred, and like he also wants revenge on whoever killed his father.

Poor boy... I mean he's still so young to be carrying all that anger around. Vuyo is 14 years old and already looks two years older than his age. I don't want him to go down a dark path that will not only be detrimental to him, but his mom as well. He is their only son and I know it would kill the mother should anything happen to him as well.

That's why I want to have a chat with Zano and see if there's anything we can do to help out with the situation. I mean, since Nkunzi was dear to him it would only be right he does good for his son. And already, the boy knows him so it won't be hard for him to be some sort of father figure.

And maybe not play a fatherly role per se but, at least play a positive male role in his life, one that he will look up to. I believe it's Zano's and the rest of the gentlemen's obligation to take care of this boy and his mom. They owe Nkunzi that much.

People are already in queues, lined up to get some food. It amazes me how fast people can get from the graveside to the departed's place in a short space of time. I doubt some of these people even went to the cemetery to say their final goodbyes to Nkunzi. I mean we were at Westpark Cemetery so I'm not sure how fast they would have been to be able to get here.