The rich; the poor and the middle class

01 April 2022

18:15

 

Zandile Cele and her family

 

“Fana I need you to go buy bread at mam Dudu's because today we don't have anything to cook...bread and tea will have to do." Zandile Cele says to her 20 year-old son as they sit in the lounge of a 4-room shack located in the heart of Lindelani's informal settlements section. Zandile is a widowed 52 year-old mother of two. Her first born daughter Thokozile is 25 years old while her last born son Fana is 20 years old. Being a vendor is the only way she is able to provide for her family since both of her kids are not employed. She has to wake up early everyday to go sell beadwork, some snacks and drinks at the market...some days are good and some days aren't.

Both her children managed to pass matric but Fana never had an opportunity to go to college or University because he didn't qualify for NSFAS and Zandile didn't have money to pay tuition fees for them. Thokozile studied physiotherapy at UNISA. Things have been tough on the family every since Zandile's husband Mthokozisi passed away a few years ago.

"Okay mama, but you don't have to use your money...I think I have something in my bag." Fana says to his mother as he stands up but Zandile interjects, "But where did you get that money from? I really pray that you are not up to no good mfana wami(my boy). I can't afford to worry about you at this time...you know how tough things are at the moment." she says with a worried face. "No mama, I got the money from bab' Mkhize okay? I was helping him at the store the other day. Don't worry mama, I won't turn into a gangster, so relax about it...hahaha" Fana says jokingly as he shakes his head.

"Shouldn't you be buying yourself something nice with that money? I mean, you earned it right?" Zandile says with a worried face but her daughter interjects, "Oh come on mama, you are also doing your best here in this house okay?" she says. "You wake up in the wee hours of the morning everyday to try and provide for this family. We will also help whenever we can okay?"

"Yes mama, Thoko is right..." Fana adds. "You have been struggling and hustling for this family all alone ever since dad died. So we will also keep trying to get jobs and when we do, we will build a home." These words seem to warm Zandile's heart as she lets out a little smile before saying, "But bantabami(my children, we applied for housing many years ago but we are still here in this falling shack..." as her face suddenly becomes sad. "I guess lohulumeni(this government) doesn't care about us. All they ever do is making promises when it's election season and then they disappear after that."

"Yeah I should follow that up mama..." Thokozile says. 'I mean, living here is not safe anymore because this house can fall anytime. I just need to find out where the department of human settlement is and who to talk to about this. We have been waiting on the list for a very long time now, but we always see people getting houses and then rent them to foreigners, it's not fair."

This suddenly turns the mood dark in the room as the family seems to be thinking about this.

"Alright mama, let me to the shop to buy 1kg of imphuphu and maybe fish tin?" Fana says as he stands up. "Yes bhuti(brother), I think that will do. I will start cooking as soon as you come back." Thokozile says with a smile as she looks at her mother who is pleased to see that her son is growing up to be a man.

***

 

18:30

The Nicholsons

 

"Sweetheart are you done with your homework?" Ronald asks his 17 year-old daughter Chloe as she comes to join the family at the dinner table. She looks a little annoyed by that question from her strict father as she sits down and start dishing for herself without responding.

Ronald Nicholson is a 48 year-old founder and CEO of tech giant Future Tech, a company that scores big contracts with both public and private sector. He is has been married to 38 year-old Jessica for about 15 years now. They together have two children- Chloe who is 17 years old and Brian who just turned 14. They live in up market Umhlanga Rocks and are actually well off financially. Jessica is a published author of several successful books but she really loves staying home and cooking for her family, while Ronald is always a busy man who travels overseas a lot.

"Chloe, did you hear what your father said?" Jessica asks as she seems a little taken aback by her daughter's unsavory attitude. "Yes mom I heard him okay?" the seemingly irritable Chloe responds as she throws hands but her mother quickly cuts in, "And...?" she probes. "Yes mom it's done okay? Geez..." Chloe says as she rolls her eyes.

"Good, because I don't want you spending too much of with your friends and not focusing on your studies. Remember, you are in matric..." Jessica says as she takes a sip of her dry red wine but Chloe interjects, "What do you have against my friends? Is it because they are black? Well, there's nothing you can do about it...they are my friends..." she says with an attitude as she takes a sip of her juice. "But Chloe sweetheart I did not say I have a problem with your friends because they are black..." a shocked Jessica says as she looks at Ronald for backing but he'd rather stay out of it as he also takes a sip of his wine.

"Come on, ofcourse you do have a problem with them mom..." Chloe says as she shrugs. "Remember last month you didn't even want me to invite them here for my birthday party? But you didn't have a problem with Chantel and Ronda coming over here...and guess what- Chantel and Ronda aren't black."

Now seeing how this conversation is threatening to take a dangerous turn, Ronald intervenes, "Sweetheart, I don't think it's like that at all okay? Your mom was just saying that..." he says but his daughter cuts in, "No dad, you know exactly what mom was saying." she says angrily but Jessica jumps in, "Baby no...it's just that I know Chantel and Ronda's families okay? Your other friends...I don't know their families, that's all. It absolutely got nothing to do with race whatsoever." she says with a begging voice as she once again looks at her husband who this time nods in agreement.

"Well, maybe you two need to go to the township so that you can see where they live..." Chloe says as she shrugs but when Jessica wants to say something she continues, "You know what mom and dad? My friends may not be coming from rich families or live in big and beautiful houses like we have here; but they are good people. All these material things that make you feel that you are better than other people will go one."

"Alright young lady, that's enough now okay? I think you have made your point." Ronald says with a authoritative voice. "Now look. nothing will happen to this house okay? We wouldn't have paid millions for it if it wasn't safe to stay here. We are not responsible for the situation your friends' families find themselves in okay? We are just trying to provide for you and your brother so that you won't have to find yourselves one day without a home one day. You see this home? It is yours and your brother's and it is going nowhere...no one can ever take it away from you guys. Nothing whatsoever..."

This makes Chloe to think for a second but she seems a little upset, so she stands up and goes towards the stairs. "Where are you going?" her mother calls out. "I have lost my appetite..." she says as she climbs the stairs, leaving her parents shocked.

***

 

18:45

The Ngubanes

 

Somewhere in the beautiful township of Ntuzuma section E Ben Ngubane and his family are having supper in this beautiful house located in the section's upper class neighborhood when daughter Londeka storms in as though she's been chased by someone.

"Sweetheart what's wrong? What happened to you?" Ben's wife Lindiwe asks anxiously as she jump from her chair in panic. Ben also stands up and says "Sweetheart, what's wrong?" but Londeka is too terrified to even talk as she comes to sit down while she is breathing heavily. Both her parents who look worried and anxious come to sit next to her.

Ben is a 50 year-old local businessman who owns a few establishments in the form of a garage, a supermarket and a shisanyama. He is well respected in this community because he does his part in helping with part-time jobs for the youth of the area whenever there is an opening. He and Lindiwe have been married for about 10 years when their daughter Londeka who now works in the family business was 15 years. The community here describe Ben as good man who is protective of his family, especially his daughter, while 38 year-old Lindiwe is seen as very kind woman who gets along with everyone in area.  

"I got mugged..." Londeka says with a trembling voice as her hands are shaking. As she says this, she suddenly has flashbacks about what happened not so long ago. She has never been mugged before so this is shaking her very bad. 

"What? Mugged? Where?" a shocked Ben asks anxiously but his wife adds, "Oh my God, sweetheart, are you okay? Did they hurt you?'' as panic sets in. She pours some water for her traumatized daughter. "Uhmm...no mama, they didn't hurt me but I really thought they would..." Londeka says with a trembling voice as tears start to fall down her face.

"Tell me ndodakazi(daughter), who the hell did this to you and what did they take? I'm gonna find them and I will teach them a lesson." an angry Ben says as he raises his voice a little bit. "Uhmm...There were two guys, I don't know them dad..." Londeka says as she wipes her tears. "I have never seen them before so I'm guessing they are not from here...maybe they are from Lindelani or KwaMashu. Uhmm...they took cash and my cell phone. One of them had a knife pointed at me so I gave them the phone and the cash I had on me which was R1200..."

"Oh my God..." Lindiwe says as she covers her mouth in shock but Ben interjects, "No it's okay love..." he says. "Money and the phone can always be replaced but our daughter's life can't be replaced. We must just be grateful that they didn't hurt her but ofcourse we will have to report this at the police station. Where did this happen?"

Londeka thinks for a second before saying, "Uhmm...it's under the bridge where I always jump off but there was no one else jumping off at that time so I guess it was my lucky day."

"Love you see why I never wanted her to take public transport for work?" an upset Lindiwe says as she looks a little emotional. "Yeah honey I know okay?" Ben says as he shakes his head in disbelief. "Alright look sweetheart, from now on you won't be taking public transport to work okay? But for now I want you to take leave from work until you are okay. In the meantime I will accompany you to the police station tomorrow, is that okay with you? But if you are still not okay tomorrow we can always do it some other time. But I'd really prefer we did it tomorrow because the sooner these thugs are caught, the better it would be.

Londeka doesn't respond to what her father is saying but slowly stands and walks towards the stairs. "Wait darling...what about your food?" her mother calls out buy Londeka doesn't respond but keeps on going. "Sweetheart it's okay, she will come back and take it when she's good and ready alright?" Ben whispers to his wife as they watch their traumatized daughter climb the stairs.