Everson Luhanga
USimon Mashwe Mhlanga, omunye wabantu abamnyama abasele baseNingizimu Afrika abalwa empini yesibili yomhlaba, ushone eneminyaka engu-103.
USimon ubengumeluleki ezinganeni eziningi futhi engumelaphi wesintu obelapha amalungu omphakathi wangakubo, ikakhulukazi labo ababhekene nezinkinga zomshado.
Ubengomunye wamalungu ambalwa asele alwela iNingizimu Afrika ohlangothini lwama-Allies ngokumelene nama-Nazi.
Ubenamandla angenamkhawulo, ngesikhathi simbona simvakashele ngoMandulo ngo-2020 ngemuva nje kokuthi ahlanganise iminyaka engu-101.
Ngangilindele ukuhlangana nendoda ebuthakathaka ezinyaweni futhi engezwa kahle ezindlebeni.
Kodwa ngahlangana nomuntu owayengakhumbuli nje kuphela konke okwenzeka empini kodwa owayenamandla okudansa futhi engumqemane.
Wangibingelela ngengoma kanye nomdanso.
Amandla akhe ayechichima. Indlu yakhe yayifudumele futhi inobungani.
Wangithatha wangifaka endumbeni yakhe wangitshengisa imithi ehlukene yokwelapha izifo ezahlukene.
Kodwa kukhona okwakulokhu kungikhathaza.
Njalo uma ekhuluma ngempilo yakhe empini, wayebonakala elimele futhi engajabule ngempatho ayithola kubaphathi bakhe.
Wangitshela ukuthi amasosha amnyama abuya empini ngo-1945 ayenethemba lokuthi uhulumeni uzowasiza njengoba ayesize amasosha amhlophe.
“Ngabuya empini ngingenalutho,” esho. “Njengabo bonke abanye engibaziyo, nganikezwa ibhayisikili nemali engaphansi kuka-R200. Kwaba yilokho kuphela.”
Waqhuba wathi isikhathi aphinda wathola ngaso imali kuhulumeni kungesikhathi eqala ukuhola isibonelelo sikahulumeni sakwa-Sassa.
“Angizange ngiphathwe njengomuntu owabeka impilo yakhe engcupheni ngenxa yesizwe. Lokho kwaphula inhliziyo yami kodwa kwadingeka ukuthi ngiqine futhi ngiqale impilo kabusha ngingelutho.”
USimon wangitshela ukuthi ngemuva kokubuya kwakhe empini, wayengenakhaya futhi wayevame ukulala ehholo lomphakathi.
Kodwa uMkhulu uSimon Mhlanga ubeyindoda eyanele ukubeka konke lokho ngemuva wabamba iqhaza ekuthuthukisweni komphakathi. Wasungula amaqembu ezemidlalo entsha endaweni yangakubo kanye neqembu le-drum majorette.
Ulaphe abantu abaningi abanezifo ezahlukene. Izinsizwa ezazihlangabezana nezinkinga embhedeni zazifika kuye.
Wathi uhlenga imishado ebhidlikayo ebisengcupheni yokushabalala ngenxa yokungenzi kahle embhedeni. Imithi yakhe yemilingo yabuyisela imishado futhi labo abashadile babejabule kakhulu futhi basala benokumamatheka okubanzi ngemuva kokuvakashela indumba yakhe.
Wangibonisa umuthi onamandla ohlenge imishado eminingi.
Wanginika umuthi wasembhedeni ozoletha injabulo ekhaya.
Njengendoda eshadile, ngawamukela ngenjabulo. Ubani ongalenqaba ithuba elinjalo? Wanginika impushana ukuze ngiyixube nekhofi lami ekhaya – kodwa ngeke ngikutshele ukuthi wasebenza noma cha.
Ngaphambi kokuthi ngiqede ingxoxo yethu, uSimon waya endaweni yokudansa ngase ngimphosela inselelo. Kodwa akazange anginike ithuba ngoba wangihlula incaca.
Ukushona kwakhe ngeke kuthinte abantu abesondelene nabo kuphela, kodwa nami engake ngahlangana naye ngasho ukuthi unomoya omuhle.
IMpi yoMhlaba yeSibili yaphela eminyakeni engu-77 edlule. Isizukulwane esalwa kuleyo mpi – okwashona kuyo abantu abaningi – sebashona.
Omunye wamasosha ayo amadala uzobekwa endaweni yakhe yokugcina kuloMgqibelo e-Soweto.