Be Loved

Chapter 6

It's nine in the morning and Pearl and Leko The Activist wait in the car, outside of prison. They have arrived to fetch the social worker who runs the support group that Molatlhegi attends. The three of them are planning to go to Tshegofatso's home and inform them of Molatlhegi and his parole application. They know that the meeting is important and they cannot leave any chance of failure. The social worker parks his car next to them and steps out.

"Hi. Em, you didn't have to come dressed in your police uniform. We are also dressed casually" comments Pearl, as she looks at the social worker intently.

"My name is Thulani by the way. The uniform will come in handy. In fact, I will need to drive with the official correctional services car. Can you send me the address in case we lose each other in the convoy? I know how you BMW drivers are" replies Thulani, with a cheeky grin.

"I like this guy. I see no ring on your finger. Are you available" asks Leko The Activist. Thulani blushes and Pearl laughs at him.

"I'll let Leko send you address. Then you can take this conversation into your DMs. I'll drive slow enough for you to keep up ne Thulani?" Everyone laughs.

The drive to Tshegofatso's home took over an hour from the prison. Thulani did keep up with Pearl's BMW driving skills. As they reached the correct street, Pearl drove slower, making sure that she did not drive past the correct house.

"Number 79102 is that one ahead on the left" says Leko The Activist.

Pearl and Thulani park their cars outside the yard. As they stepped out of the cars, the three of them looked at each other and took deep breaths. They could feel the gravity of the moment.

"Let me knock and lead the conversation. I will introduce you guys and explain everything" explains Thulani to Pearl and Leko The Activist.

Thulani picked up a rock and knocked on the metal part of the gate, to get the attention of the people inside. Ntate Phiri heard them and glances from his window "There is a policeman by the gate. Tshidi, are you expecting company" asks Ntate Phiri. Nkgono Tshidi shouts from the bathroom that she isn't expecting anyone. Ntate Phiri decides to fetch the gate remote and presses to let them in. Ntate Phiri opens the front door and waits for the three guests to come in.

"Dumelang" greets Ntate Phiri. The three guests greet Ntate Phiri and Thulani negotiates for them to be allowed into the house. Nkgono Tshidi, like a magician, somehow prepared tea and biscuits for her guests in this short time. She brings the tray filled with treats and offers it to her guests in the lounge.

"So, what made us have the honour of the police joining us for tea and biscuits" asks Ntate Phiri.

"Yes, so my name is Thulani. I work as a probation officer, also known as a social worker who works in a correctional facility. I came with two of my colleagues, Pearl is a lawyer and Leko works with her. We have come here regarding one of our prisoners." Thulani couldn't continue his comment because he is interrupted by Nkgono Tshidi.

"We don't know prisoners. We are God-fearing people. You have the incorrect house. You agree with me Ntate Phiri right?"

"I support my wife. She is correct about our family and our values. We are a God-fearing and loving family. There is no criminal history within this family" adds Ntate Phiri. He keeps looking at his wife to reassure her that things will be alright.

Keeya can hear that there is a conversation in the lounge. She picks up that it is multiple voices and decides to eavesdrop on the conversation.

"I understand and acknowledge that you do not commit crimes and are a family of high morals and values. However, we have reason to believe that about 15 years ago you reported a kidnapping, and the kidnapper was arrested, charged, and convicted of this crime. He is now looking to gain probation but requires the family of the victim to testify about how they would feel if he would be released. Does this case ring a bell?" Thulani was trying his best to allow the family to be honest and own up that they know the truth.

"Well, I don't know how this criminal justice system works. If it would be true that we reported a crime and the person is in prison, why would we be okay with releasing such a person? How long did this person can sentenced for" asks Ntate Phiri, as he continues to be cagey and non-committal.

"20 years sir" Thulani replies.

"That was never enough. An injustice! He killed our daughter and changed our life completely! He deserves the death-penalty" shouts an upset Nkgono Tshidi. The noise she made makes Keeya come closer to the lounge, as she wants to hear clearly what it is that would make her this upset.

"What my wife is trying to say, is that we do not support this. You can tell the courts our decision. Please leave now."

"Thulani, this is not going to work. Listen, Molatlhegi Molefe is his name. He is a good man and deserves to be given parole. More importantly, he wants to meet his daughter that you have denied him access to. What you have done is criminal." These comments cause an uproar, with shouting happening between Keeya's grandparents and Pearl. Thulani struggles to get them calm and Keeya walks into the room.

"Keeya, go back to your room" demands Ntate Phiri.

"So he is my dad. Molatlhegi Molefe. That's really my dad?"

"Your grandfather told you to go to your room! Learn to listen. Tsamaya!" Shouts Nkgono Tshidi

"He called me. I heard his voice. I thought it was a joke. It really was him. I want to meet him."

"We are your legal guardians and you will not go see this charlatan!" Replies a visibly angry Ntate Phiri, as he tries to get Keeya back to her room.

"Unfortunately, unless your father gave his parental rights away, he can have the final say about where you go. He wants to see you" comments a calmer Pearl. Seeing Molatlhegi's daughter in front of her put her spirits at ease, especially when she asked to see him.

"That can't be right. Policeman, this can't be legal right" asks a perplexed Nkgono Tshidi. She sits down on the couch, looking defeated.

"I will be there in the room, as a social worker and mediator. She has a right to see him and he has a right to ask to see her. If I think the meeting between the two of them is too emotional or traumatic, I will end it. That is all I can promise. But it is true. You cannot stop her from seeing her father" explains Thulani to Keeya's grandparents.

Thulani continues to explain the process that would be followed going forward. He reassures Keeya's grandparents that these sorts of meetings have happened before and they ended well in the past. Keeya's grandparents were not happy at all and told Keeya that she is on her own going forward if she agrees to visit her father. As her grandparents left the room in protest, Keeya accompanies the three guests out of the yard. As Keeya returns to her room, she is left conflicted about what all of this means. Words like kidnapping, murder, prison, 14 years kept spinning in her mind. She wonders if this means her grandparents have been lying to her all along and why this was the case. She decides to go back to sleep, as she felt a headache coming as a result of all the events she just witnessed.