Before I go any further, I must apologise for the absence of pictures in this article. I took photos while watching last night, but when I was downloading them to the computer, I inadvertently deleted them, and I learnt that files deleted from your phone do not go on the computer’s recycle bin. So please, bear with me here. Either way, the show must go on.
Story 1
In the first story, we are introduced to Paulina Tutu Tsoanyane (nee Mantlonyana) from Brits. Tutu’s father, Joel Mantlonyana, passed away in 2000, but while he was ill, his dying wish was to be buried back home in Mafikeng. While this might seem like a reasonable request to most, when you don’t know where your father’s home in Mafikeng is, it poses a problem.
Tutu herself last went to Mafikeng in 1984, and her father would only go once a year to get a stamp(presumably a stamp on his I.D.?, older readers can school me here)
Her aged mother, who is now a frail 84 year old, also did/does not know where exactly her husband hailed from. Thus, having never had contact with the father’s family, his death brought about a dilemma as far as his final resting place was concerned. With money also being an issue, the family decided to bury Joel in Brits, where they were living.
However, the issue itself was not buried, as Tutu now spends sleepless nights with her father visiting her in her dreams, which to her is a sign of his restless soul.
Tutu therefore wants to find her father’s family, not to rebury her father, but to explain to them why her father is not buried in his homeland, thus hopefully appease his soul so he may rest in peace. She also wants meet the other half of her family so she can form a relationship with them.
They therefore head to Mafikeng, meeting many a chief along the way, each sending them to the other, until they find one who is of aid. Although the chief informs them that he doesn’t know the Mantlonyana’s, he sends a message to the community that anyone who knows the family, or is perhaps a member of the family, let himself be known.
Fortunately, the message reaches Monabi Mantlonyana, son to Nnobi Mantlonyana, Joel’s brother. Arriving at the place I presume to be the chiefs homestead, the situation is explained to Monabi.
Monabi then agrees to take Tutu to his mother, and so they leave, hand in hand (I tried to get a shot of this but the camera man was too quick for me, but I had to mention it nonetheless) .
When they arrive, they meet Nnobi’s wife, who tells them that she herself never really knew any of the Mantlonyana’s, although she married into that family. (The Mantlonyana’s clearly aren’t into getting to know in-laws).
She also goes into a lot of details about the surname they are using being a name and not a surname, and all this I did not understand, until Andile explained that the Mantlonyana surname is actually the grandfathers name, which was used as a surname by future generations. All this, Nnobi’s wife pointed out, was rather insignificant, and the big issue was that Tutu had taken the steps to find them.
Before they leave to head for the graveyard, with bibles out, they prepare to say a prayer, seeing this, Nnobi’s wife who had just been at church says: “I prayed at church, I can’t pray anymore”, and like that she leaves them to pray. That killed me…
After prayers, they head to the graveyard to see where the grandmother is buried.
As far as Tutu finding her father's family, that was taken care of. But as far as appeasing her father's soul, I am guessing that will be done in time, with relevant rituals and so on.
Story 2
Kedibone was born in Mafikeng, 26 years ago, but grew up in Mpulanga, and is now living in Randburg with her aunt. Kedibone grew up without the love of a mother or a father, after her mother abandoned her suddenly when she was a child. Her father, she is told, is David Pilane, living sin Ganaalagte in the North West.
She tells us that she last saw her mother at a young age, around grades 1 or 2. One day, she came home from school to the news that her mother was gone, but would be back, and so she waited, until she heard of the death.
Her aunt told her that her mother passed away in 1996, murdered by her then partner, who alledgedly also buried her, as her body was never recovered.
Kedibone longs for the love of a parent, and that is why she is looking for her father, from whom she doesn’t necessarily want anything, although if he is able to take her back to school, she would be greatful.
She is also aware of the possibility that he might have passed on, and while this might sadden her, atleast she will know where her father is buried.
In narrating her childhood, Kedibone speaks of how she would have to drop out of school to work for school fees money, then go back to school, only to drop out again when money ran out. She was living in pain and being beaten up, until 1994 when a woman came and took her to live with her in KZN.
She came back in 1996 and went to school, but dropped out before long, until now. Kedibone’s pain is evident when she speaks, so much so that I really was feeling her pain, and was myself close to tears.
She takes the KK team to her aunt and uncle, who promised her they would help her find her father. They tell her that although her father never saw her, he knew of her birth.
Like that, they set off for Ganaalagte in the North West, to find David Pilane.
After a long search, they reach the house in question, where they find an old woman, who turns out to be David’s mother. When they explain the reason for their arrival, the old woman is clearly shocked, and calls her oldest daughter, Mathabo, to witness this with her, as her old age means she will forget somethings.
Again, the visitors explain themselves, and Mathabo is extremely accommodating. Kedibone tells them of the pain of growing up without either parent, and tells them of the dreams she has that indicated that her mother’s and father’s ancestor are fighting over her.
Mathabo tells them that David is currently in Klerksdorp, visiting his other sister. She also adds in that her brother is quite the stud, having fathered many a child. When she is shown a photo of David, Kedibone immediately recognises the similarity of her father’s nose to hers, saying this explains where she got the ugly nose from.
I was worried (looking at the time), that they wouldn’t go to Klerksdorp, but KK doesn’t disappoint, so after the break, we see them heading to Ganaalagte to find Mr Pilane.
When they arrive in Klerksdorp, Kedibone meets David’s sister, and tells her who she is and why she has come. When she mentions that she is from Mareetsane, David’s sister is certain that this is her brother’s child, as he once told her of a child he had left in that part of the world. After some time, David himself arrives, and is introduced to Kedibone.
Initially he seems like he wants to deny paternity, but his sister quickly reminds him that he told her about Kedibone, and points out the similar noses. David then tells Kedibone that he often thought about her, to an extent that she appears in his dreams sometimes. Explaining his absence, he talks about Kedibone’s maternal grandfather being unbearably strict, so much so that he knew he could never set foot that side.
He also tells her that he has 10 children, Kedibone included. So like that, Kedibone meets her father, and is welcomed by his whole family.
With Kedibone being in such clear pain, Andile expresses her hope that she will seek professional help in dealing with her pain, which I fully agree with.
Unlike last week, this week KK ended with the mandatory photos of missing people, none of which I recognized.