Everson Luhanga
Ngenkathi uMadala Simon Mhlanga esayinela ukuyolwa emasosheni kowezi-1941 ubelungele ukushona.
Cishe iminyaka engama-80 ngemuva kwalokho uMhlanga usengumqemane, uyadansa ubunganza impilo eneminyaka eyi-101.
Kanti kubeyimpilo ngempela le.
Ukewaba ngumqeqeshi kwezemidlalo, umeluleki ezinganeni, umculi umqeqeshi wokudansa kanye nokuba yinyanga yesintu.
UMhlanga ungomunye osesele yedwa kubantu ababenamandla abaphilayo abayi-80,000 abamnyama eNingizimu Afrika abasebenzele lelizwe belwa empini yomhlaba yesibili. Bayi-344,000 abantu baseNingizimu Afrika abenze lomsebenzi.
Mhla zimbili kuMamdulo, umhlaba wabungaza iminyaka engama-75 kuphele impi yesibili yomhlaba.
Labo abalwa kuleyompi – lapho kwashona izigidi eziningi zabantu- kuningi kodwa kuphelile manje.
Ngenkathi abakwa-Scrolla.Africa befika emzini wakhe e-Dobsonville, eSoweto, uMhlanga ubingelele ithimba ngomculo nangokudansa.
UMhlanga ukhumbula zonke izinsuku zakhe eyintsha kanye nomsebenzi wakhe empini kunje ngoba kunjalo.
Uthe wanquma ukujoyina amasosha ngoba impilo ekhaya yayinzima.
Umfowabo kanye nodadewabo balahleka, bamshiya ukuba anakekele umama wakhe owayegula futhi ekhubazekile.
“Bengingafuni ukuba ngedwa ekhaya ngingenawo umndeni,” uyasho. “Bengimncane kakhulu futhi ngingenamandla.”
UMhlanga wahamba waya esikhungweni samasosha e-Holfontein lapho atshela abaphathi bakhe ukuthi ufuna ukuba yisosha. Ngokushesha bamusayinisa.
Ngemuva kokusebenza esikhungweni samashosha ePitoli, e-Free State, e-Springs kanye nakwezinye izinxenye zezwe, uMhlanga- obeyi-lens corporal – uye wathunyelwa e-Italy lapho okwakuqubuke impi phakathi kwe-German Nazis kanye ne-Italian Fascists.
INingizimu Afrika ibilwa ohlangothini lwamaBrithani, iMelika, i-Soviet Union kanye ne-China.
“Ngathunyelwa e-Italy lapho engangigada khona iziboshwa zaMataliana zempi ezazibanjiwe,” uyasho.
Noma wayengaphathi isibhamu noma khona ukuba impi uqobo lwayo, uMhlanga uthe kwakungelula kuye kanye nakwamanye amasosha amnyama.
“Ngahamba ngolwandle ukuya eKapa ngiya eThekwini kanye nase-Italy ngaphinde ngabuya futhi ngeza eNingizimu Afrika.”
“Noma ngangingumholi weqembu, akekho noyedwa wethu owayenelungelo lokusho noma ukwenza noma yini. Sonke “besingovuma sthebeni”.
“Besitshelwa imiyalelo yokugxuma noma silale. Besingenawo ucha ngenkathi sise-Italy.”
Uthe amasosha amnyama aya empini kowezi-1945 ayenethemba lokuthi uhulumeni uzowasiza njengoba asiza amasosha amhlophe.
“Ngabuya empini ngingenalutho,” uyasho. “Ngangingenayo indawo yokuhlala. Kwamele ukuthi ngibheke indawo yokuhlala.
“Njengawo wonke umuntu engangimazi, nganikezwa ibhayisikili kanye nemali engaphansi kuka-R200. Yilokho kuphela.”
Uthi okokuqala ethola imali kuhulumeni kwakungenkathi eqala ukuholela impensheni yokuguga.
“Angizange ngiphathwe njengomuntu owanikela ngempilo yakhe kulelizwe. Leyonto yangephula inhliziyo kodwa kwafanela ukuthi ngiqine ngiqale kabusha ngingenalutho.”
Okulandelayo: ukuthi uMhlanga wakhona kanjani ukwakha impilo yakhe kabusha.