EDITOR – I had lunch with my son-in-law at the Britannia Hotel on Friday, 19 May.
Being seventy plus, my sense of balance is not too good (wine not helping) and my knees rather stiff, so I need the help of a walking stick.
After a very good lunch, we left the Capsicum, my son-in-law ahead of me to fetch the car. So I tried clumsily to climb the steps leading to the car park on my own.
A casual worker busy washing the steps jumped to my rescue: “Mkulu, let me help you, where is your car?” and he gently seized my arm to help me up.
By the time we reached the top of the stairs, my son-in-law was waiting there with his car. “Siyabonga brother,” I said, but the man was already back to his work.
Ex Africa semper aliquid novum!
There is always some fresh beauty out of Africa beyond the daily ugliness of violence, indifference and corruption.
JM Spitaels
Umbilo
