Dr Mosibudi Mangena, writer and former Minister of Science and Technology had this to say on Twitter, “The apartheid regime banned some of us for 5 years to thwart freedom. Now the government has banned the whole nation for 21 days to clip the wings of the invisible coronavirus. Mara bathong, 21 days are pap and vleis, a breeze. But hey, Covid-19 is no joke. Check Italy and Spain.”
My take is that many of us are emphasising our right of movement without acknowledging that opposite the same Bill of Rights in our Constitution there are limitations.
Well, my recollection of the 1985 state of emergency could be equated to Uncle Mmatabo relating tales of Tswiitswii to his nephew in “Bogobe bja Tswiitswii ga bo lewe”, a Northern Sotho short story in Diphete Bopape’s book titled, “Bogobe bja Tswiitswii”.
Significantly, the book was first published in 1985 and as for me I was a Sub-standard B learner at Madenathaga primary school in Mohlonong village, Ga-Mashashane in the Lebowa homeland.
In between assisting “bundles of joy” with activities to keep them stimulated and in preparation for going back to school when the nationwide lockdown is finally lifted, Bogobe bja Tswiitswii was my read to kickstart #LockdownSA #StayAtHomeSA.
During several interactions with Bopape including at the memorial lecture of another Northern Sotho writer, Oliver Kgadime “OK” Matsepe recently, I promised ransacking steel “drommels” at my “father’s house” for his books.
Before experiencing a formal library at Dr MJ Madiba secondary school and against the backdrop of the South African Library Week (16-22 March), the steel “drommels” remain the source of my early knowledge. I had an opportunity to indulge in all kinds of reading at an early age, not just prescribed school material.
My former secondary school is named after another literary giant and educationist, Dr Moses Josiah Madiba, who is also the first African Chancellor of the then University of the North (UNIN).
Having read his Northern Sotho book titled “Mahlontebe” during my primary school days, his other book “Nkotsana” is on my list for the lockdown period.
Looking at people’s reaction towards enforcement of the lockdown by the police and soldiers, one can perhaps go back to Bopape, where he spoke about how the community hated Sergeant Seroboka for doing his police work.
As we are now halfway through Day of #LockdownSA, it remains to be seen if Matsepe’s words, “We yearn to rule, we groan when ruled” in his 1968 Northern Sotho novel “Meokgo ya bjoko” will ring true!
As we yearn to have free movement, legendary trombonist and jazz music, Jonas Gwangwa reminds us that this is “A temporary inconvenience”.
After all, for some of us, soldiers setting camp in the Mashashane area was a regular feature in the mid-80s and early 90s.
Maubane is a public relations strategist and a social commentator.
You can follow him on Twitter @MaleselaB
