This report is the first of an imminent three reports, of what the media colloquially coined as the ‘Zondo Commission’, as it was chaired by Justice RMM Zondo, the current Acting Chief Justice of the Republic of South Africa.

Years back I learnt that the place we call "kuHophu" is actually named after a murderous white settler named Hamilton Hope who was the Magistrate of Qumbu and representative of British colonial rule under the reign of AmaMpondomise King, Mhlontlo, Son of King Matiwane.

I remember a time I was surrounded by a sea of people yet internally I felt like a hollow shell cast out of the ocean.

The latter point is vital because the ANC’s January 8th statement of 2022, emphasized their “safeguarding of democratic gains”. The ANC government’s poor service delivery and malfeasance since 1994, exposes the aforesaid remark as part of ANC’s meaningless rhetoric.

I think it is fair to assume that we have all encountered music that has quite literally sent shivers down our spines.

Such a great pity that the weather could not be governed. The Mayoral Committee had been planning the thing for a whole month, but as soon as the week of the well-funded occasion began, rain, heavy and non-stop, poured down for days on end.

Zandile’s silent cry at the altar means that a wretched body like him is guilty until proven innocent. His hopelessness represents many damned black bodies in South Africa who are persecuted for being poor.

Two years ago, to the day, I came to both the end and the beginning. The end of being ithwasana, and the beginning of being isangoma. A lot has changed; a lot has remained the same. One of my gobelas once said to me, ‘Go thwasa ga go fele’.