Sifiso Jimta
Kubantu abaningi baseNingizimu Afrika abahlala emijondolo yaseSilahliwe eSicelo nase-Mamello eqhele ngemizuzu engu-45 ukusuka eNingizimu yeGoli igama elithi inkululeko alisho lutho kubo.
Amagama aziwayo kulo mphakathi elithi Silahliwe elisho ukuthi silahliwe kube elithi-Mamello elisho ukubekezela bese kuba elithi Sicelo elisho ukucela.
Labo abampofu kakhulu bahlala emijondolo egcwele amanzi angaphansi komhlaba kanti abanye bahlala ezakhiweni ezingaphansi kwezintambo zikagesi eziyingozi.
Umhlali uma ezoqala usuku uliqala ngokuvuka ekuseni ngovivi ngehora lesine baye kotheza izinkuni njengoba umlilo usiza ukulungiselela amanzi okugeza izingane eziya esikoleni. Uma lina izingane ziphoqeleka ukuthi ziye esikoleni zingagezile.
Zontathu lezi zindawo ezinabantu abaningi lapha zakhiwa ngemuva kobandlululo futhi kusukela lapho izimpilo zabantu abahlala kuzo azikaze zishintshe.
Lokhu sekwenze izakhamuzi ezindala, intsha kanye nezingane zalamalokishi zikholwe ukuthi inkululeko nentando yeningi kuyiphupho kubo.
UMaria Sibanda oneminyaka engu-54 ohlale eSicelo kusukela ngonyaka ka-2005 uthe wathuthela kule ndawo efuna indawo yokuhlala engcono kodwa umjondolo wakhe umfimfa amanzi aqhamuka ngaphansi komhlaba.
“Sithe sifika eSilahliwe sathuthelwa endaweni yesikhashana ebizwa ngokuthi kuse-Kuvukiland. Impilo yethu yaphenduka yaba yimbi kakhulu ngemuva kokuba sithuthelwe lapha ngenxa yokuthi umjondolo wethu wawugcwele amanzi. Uma sifuna usizo asilutholi,” kusho uSibanda.
“Nginengane encane futhi njalo ekuseni uma iya esikoleni ngidinga ukweqa uthango oluzungeze igceke elinodaka.”
UDavid Lephoto oneminyaka engu-59 ubudala ohlala e-Kuvukiland ukhulume wathi.
“Abakwa-Eskom bafike bangitshela ukuthi ngibekwe endaweni eyingozi kakhulu futhi lezi zintambo zikagesi zingawela ekhanda lami noma yinini.”
Uthe useneminyaka efaka isicelo sokwakhelwa indlu yomxhaso kanti manje uselahlekelwe ithemba lokuthi uyoke anikezwe yona.
Esinye isakhamuzi uLydia Mcira uthi izingane zakhe zibukela umabonakude kuphela uma zivakashele izihlobo.
“Uma kuyinkululeko lena esasiyilwela okusho ukuthi inkululeko ayikho kubantu base Silahliwe.”
USakhi Gumbi oneminyaka engu-63 uvame ukubonakala eduze kwase Silahliwe ephusha ibhala eligcwele izinkuni. USakhi ungomunye wabafika ngo-1997 kusungulwa iSicelo.
“Ayikho inkululeko,” kusho uGumbi.
“Sisaphila ngaphansi kwezimo ezifanayo ezimbi kakhulu kunezobandlululo.
Sizabalaza nsuku zonke futhi asinawo ugesi, amanzi, ompompi kanye nezindlu ezifanele singabantu abalahliwe.