Yibanathi

🧡Part 14🧡

Back to the present time

Yibanathi Pov

Today is pension day. I am left alone with my little brother because my grandmother went to collect her grant at the Enkanyisweni Shopping centre and I am happy because it means she will come back with proper groceries.

We are a struggling family. I would not like to use the word poor because we try by all means to make ends meet. We are a family of 3 surviving on old age grant and child support grant. It is a great example to use to add to the definition of poverty but I tend to block all those thoughts because I do believe that one day our situation will change and we will be better than ever. Positivity is what we need to have as individuals and being able to believe in yourself even when others don't because you as an individual is capable of change of you set your mind to it.

My family includes my little brother Sandile who is 9 years old and my grandmother Avuyile. I do not know my father according to my grandfather he rejected the baby and he disappeared to where she does not know. My mother on the other hand is a topic my grandmother mentioned once. She said that my mother hated me since birth and my mother died in the hands of my aunt, Ntombikayise who strangled her to death a month after I was born because my father abandoned his family because of me. He apparently was not sure of my paternity since my mother was not exactly a woman who had morals and self dignity according to her mother Avuyile.

My mother died when I was a month old and when I was thirteen I went to live with MaNgubo who is my mom's friend and when I came back a year later Sandile was born and I was told he is my baby brother. As to how I myself have no answer and everyone says he looks like me. The truth of the matter is that I do not know my father neither do I know Sandile's father but I was told that we are true Chiliza children by blood.

I am 22 years old. I graduated 3 months ago at UNISA for a Human Resources Degree. I am unemployed and in search of a job. My grandmother is 62 years old and Sandile is 9. She was working
as a nanny for 37 years and she lost her job 3 years ago. After serving that so called family for 37 good years they decided to pay her back by firing her. So for the past 3 years she was surviving on my NSFAS grant and the child support grant as well as her old age pension.

I did not stay in student accomodation while I was still in university. I stayed in one of MaNgubo's houses where she had people pay rent and I was one of the tenants there it was just an ordinary 4 room which I shared with another girl. So we basically split the rent in half and I used to get money for groceries from my boyfriend. He is a great guy absolutely loving and caring.

So I currently live in Umbumbulu and my boyfriend lives in durban,Maville to be exact. I do visit him from time to time but he is busy but I understand. We met in varsity and it has been 3 years since we were together.

The lies I make when I have to visit him are disgraceful but what can we say a man over family is an improper fraction so to me he always wins. It was easy when I was MaNgubo's tenant because I left whenever I wanted no questions asked and she did not live with us her tenants. Her house was in eNanda where we once lived.

The Nanda story has so many uncompleted pieces for me like for example who is Sandile's mother and why is he said to be my brother. I asked MaNgubo once upon a time about Sandile and she told me that Sandile was my biological brother and I must never ask her nonsense ever again.

We moved to Umbumbulu 4 years back and I remember that day very well. The community came marching to our house it was around 9pm.

"Avuyile you are a witch!"

One man said.

"I am not a witch who have I killed!"

My grandmother shouted back.

"Kill the witch! Kill the witch!"

"Asimfuni hayi hayi umthakathi hayi hayi uyathakatha hayi hayi!"
[We don't want a witch! She is a witch!]

The people were chanting and stomping on our yard.

"You are a danger to the community. We no longer feel safe with you."

One woman boldly stated.

"You have till thursday to leave this place or else we will stone you and your little witch and wizard."

The man who seemed to be the leader said that and seemed to be leading his pack of fighters away from our house.

"Sies Avuyile to think we trusted you while you are a self-taught terminator."

Another man said and they left our doorstep busy singing. I was sure the whole community knew. It was Tuesday evening when they came to threaten us.

Sandile shakes my arm definetly pulling me out of my trance.

"Anathi. I am hungry."

Sandile did not go to school today because I did not know what to put in his lunchbox because there is nothing to put in it, since their school has paused the feeding scheme last month due to a food poisoning investigation which is pending so now we are all suffering.

"Sandi just sleep and let us wait for granny."

I mean what can I do because my boyfriend sent me R900 and I used R500 on groceries 2 weeks ago and  paid for Sandile's school trip which has left my pocket empty. The trip was R400 for it included food, photographs as well as activities.  It was the least I could do for him because if I didn't pay he would've been the only one in his class not going. My grandmother asked where I got money from I said it was from my savings I kept for dry seasons.

The lies made me feel guilty but what could I do though?

3 hours later

"Anathi woza woza uzongiphathisa izikhwama ntombi!"

[Anathi come come and help me carry these bags girl!]

I heard my grandmother shout from the footpath leading to our home.

I do remember our house in eNanda and we are now in Umbumbulu but what can we say life has a purpose for leading us here. I take a 10 minute walk to meet up with my grandmother and I walk fast so she does not shout again. This is what is sad about our lifestyle from city to rural. 

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See you in the next part❤✌🏽