Farida Joyce
U-Omaruddin “Don” Mattera, obeyimbongi yodumo, umbhali, nesishoshovu ebesilwa nobandlululo, udlule emhlabeni eneminyaka engu-87.
Umndeni wale mbongi yakuleli umemezele ukushona kwayo ngoMsombuluko ntambama wathembisa ukuthi uzokhipha isitatimende esigcwele maduzane.
Ngokuzinikela kwakhe ekuthuthukiseni amalungelo abantu kanye nokukhuthaza ukukhula komphakathi, uMatera usanda kuhlonishwa ngendondo ye-Artfluence Human Rights Award yakulo nyaka.
Le mbongi ihlonishwe ngoMgqibelo idolobha laseGoli. Abantu abaningi batuse uMattera njengomkhankasi onomusa futhi obewukhuthalele umphakathi wakubo.
Wazalwa ngu-Donato Francisco Mattera wakhulela e-Sophiatown ngaphambi kokuba uhulumeni wobandlululo athuthele umndeni wakhe e-Westbury indawo eyayigcwele amakhaladi amaningi.
Esemusha wahehwa amaqembu ezigebengu futhi wahola iqembu elidume kabi elibizwa ngokuthi ama-Vulture.
Wagwazwa wadutshulwa wagcina evalelwe ejele, elinde ukuqulwa kwecala lokubulala ilungu leqembu lezigelekeqe ekugcineni wakhululwa.
Ngaleso sikhathi wayekhula eqaphela izici zezombusazwe zobukhona bakhe futhi wabambeka emzabalazweni wokulwa nokuxoshwa kwabantu abamnyama, amaKhaladi, kanye namaNdiya e-Sophiatown.
Manje ubeseyisishoshovu sezepolitiki wajoyina uphiko lwentsha lwe-ANC wabe esesebenza kakhulu emgudwini wokuqaphela abantu abamnyama.
Umsebenzi wakhe wezepolitiki wama isikhashana ngesikhathi evinjelwa ngo-1973.
Uhulumeni wobandlululo wamnikeza imvume yokusebenza njengomhleli omncane wephephandaba i-The Star inqobo nje uma engabhali izihloko zezindaba, ngoba izincwadi zazingavunyelwe ukuveza abantu okungamele baphume emaphepheni, kodwa lowo myalelo wasuswa eminyakeni eyisishiyagalolunye kamuva.
UMattera wayaziwa kakhulu ngezinkondlo zakhe eziqoqwe ezincwadini ezimbalwa okubalwa kuzo i-Azanian Love Song.
Wabhala izincwadi ezimbalwa kuhlanganisa ne-Gone With The Twilight. Imidlalo nezindaba zezingane ziphakathi kwemisebenzi yakhe.
Incwadi yakhe i-Memory is the Weapon yathola indondo kaSteve Biko nezinye izindondo.
UMattera usebenze njengentatheli ye-The Sunday Times, i-The Weekly Mail, Mail & Guardian ne-The Sowetan. Ngemuva kokuthatha umhlalaphansi wachitha isikhathi sakhe esiningi ebhala futhi esebenza nezingane ezihlala emgwaqeni e-Eldorado Park.
Ubaziwa njengesikhulumi esinamazwi aphusile, aphinde abe ngumqondisi wezinhlelo emicimbini eyahlukene.
Ubeziqhenya ngeziqu zakhe zokuhlonishwa azithola emanyuvesi ehlukene. I-US ne-Sweden yamnikeza umklomelo ngomsebenzi wakhe.
UMattera ufihlwe ngoMsombuluko ntambama ngokwesiko lamaSulumane.