What A Sad World

By Manqoba N. Ngwenya

South Africa is acknowledged as being a crime-ridden country, and violence is a frequent occurrence. This book depicts what we can call everyday events in the life of ordinary law abiding South African citizens. It is set on a suburb called Houghton where the world icon Nelson Mandela resided. It poses questions that no one currently has answers to. One big question that begs to be asked and answered is where or what did we as a country do so drastically wrong to raise kids that can only be described as scoundrels, and where are we heading to as a nation? The victims and the perpetrators are separated by a single road, a road that divides the rich members of the community and the less fortunate members. In the book we have three young men who, in pursuit of a better life, engage in criminal activities. Their said sad actions leave a family of four devastated and shattered. The author has unique insight into the events depicted in the book, as he is an inmate in a South African prison, currently serving life imprisonment for armed robbery, murder and attempted murder.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Manqoba N. Ngwenya
• Release date: Jan 29, 2015
• ISBN: 9781311077998

Manqoba N. Ngwenya

Like many offenders, I was partly raised by my mom. I never knew my dad until I was 12 years old, I am a first born from both my parents and have 13 siblings. I attended 5 different primary schools and 4 different high schools. At the age of 17, I moved and stayed in Hilbrow where the final brick in the dam broke loose. Like most, if not all scoundrels, I began by doing petty crimes and then graduated to armed robbery. I got arrested in 2001 and was sentenced to life imprisonment in 2003. Upon admission in prison I got involved in rehabilitating myself with the help of fellow offenders and correctional officials. In 2008, I registered to study marketing management and business management, I found the going a bit tough at first, since I had never seen the inside of a college or university before. However, armed with the unquenchable desire for change and education, I pulled through and graduated in 2011 and in 2012. I began writing in 2007.

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What a Sad World

Manqoba N. Ngwenya

Copyright © Manqoba N. Ngwenya 2015

What a Sad World

Published by Manqoba Nqoe Ngwenya

Boksburg

078 333 4193 / 073 081 5613

[e-mail]

ISBN print: 978-0-620-62985-0

ISBN electronic: 978-0-620-62985-0

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form by any means electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise without the written permission of the copyright owner.

Contents

Dedications 

Acknowledgements 

Foreword 

Characters 

The Attack 

What a nonchalant, elegant man! 

A lady with an ultra-sophisticated appearance 

The kids 

The trial 

The disintegration of the Ngcobo’s household 

Dedications

Mr. H. Harse: a trillion times thanks for always believing in me.

My sons Thobekani and Khaya: well, I reckon you know that no number of apologies would ever fix the damage that I caused by not being there for you and your mom when you guys needed me most, but nonetheless I’m extremely sorry. Given another chance I would definitely do things differently. I hope you will find it in your hearts to forgive me because I love you a billion times.

Zanokuhle aka Zano: thanks for being the best daughter in the entire world. I love you lots and hope that one day we will be able to look back and laugh.

To Otty and Jenny: well I’m not a champion with words but thanks very much for taking care of my kids; for that you will always occupy a very special place in my heart.

To my lovely moms: I sometimes wonder what I would have been without your love. I love you, darling

To all my siblings: Hope you guys know how much I love and care for you.

To my uncles: Ndaba and Marcus, I don’t know what to say that I’ve never said to you guys; you and your wives are special.

To my dad: well, I reckon you know how I feel about you, so take care.

Fix and Sister Bussie: thanks a billion times for taking care of the love of my life.

Last but extraordinary: my deceased daughter, you’ll always be in my heart, my angel. May your soul rest in peace till we meet again.

This book is also dedicated to all those who are trying to reduce detrimental circumstances leading to crime and protecting our precious morals and humanity.

Acknowledgements

Sis Uyanda, you were the first person to go through my manuscript and believed that it can indeed be a good book. Thanks a trillion times for your encouragement.

The Department of Correctional Services (DCS) in Boksburg for making the environment conducive for me to work on this masterpiece. I can’t mention you by names as that would take me a year of Sundays; all I can say is all protocols observed.

To Themba Lukhele (AKA) SKEEM GP: autie yami I reckon you know that were it not for you this work would have just remained a pipe dream so ta autie yaka.

Pat Thobejane: I know this might put you in hot waters with your superiors, but thanks for your encouragement and belief that this can be done. Thank you, sir.

There are many other people who made this work the success that it is, and I hope you won’t mind that you were not mentioned by name. Nonetheless, you are stars and I love you all.

Foreword

In life we undertake different journeys. Some joyful, some painful, some sad, some eye-opening. But the most important thing is what we take out of it. I must say that you, Manqoba, are the epitome of it all and a living example that second chances exist on this planet.

When you first asked me to write a foreword to your book, it wasn’t a usual gesture. We normally have this perception that offenders and officials cannot work together or help each other at any level. With that being said, I feel I would be failing in my duties as a correctional official if I do not embrace any positivity and progress displayed by a person under my care. One of the fundamentals of rehabilitation is acceptance. First accepting your wrong doing, the punishment, the new environment you are in, the help/assistance you are being offered and, above all, accepting the need and importance for change in one’s life.

I am very proud to acknowledge that you are a living example that all of that is possible. And this started the day we first crossed paths. You came across as a proud and arrogant person at first glance, but I refused to accept that impression. I had an obligation to get to the rock bottom of you as an individual so as to know more about you. That, I must say, was a decision I don’t regret to date. Many of us - offenders and officials alike - can take our cue and learn a lot from you. You have so confidently

become a better citizen of this country. You’ve managed to rise above all the challenges you were facing, and that life has thrown at you, by developing and upgrading yourself academically and through life experiences, while in the process becoming a model example for your fellow inmates. I must also acknowledge that I have learned quite a few lessons from our conversations from time to time. I’ve also observed how important family is to you and that is a cornerstone of your success throughout.

We have built a formidable friendship that I believe would continue throughout. You are one of those inmates who makes us proud of our work as correctional services and also to have faith that indeed rehabilitation programmes do effectively work. I encourage you to use this book as a mirror of yourself and also as a tool to enlighten others who are struggling to come to terms with their current situation. Continue to be a shining light, a beacon of hope, an inspiration, a motivation, a living proof and example to all of us that IT IS POSSIBLE.

I wish you all the blessings and success in all your endeavours. And I can’t wait for the day you walk free from these walls.

Heita mei bra

Well done and congratulations

Dibate Patrick Thobejane

(Communications and Liaison Officer)

Characters

Mr. Jabulani Ngcobo

Mrs. Jennifer Ngcobo

Mable the (1st born daughter of the Ngcobos)

Prince Thobekani (the only son of the Ngcobos)

Mr.Shapiro ( Defense Advocate)

Bheki Mabhekza Mehlomakhulu (1st accused)

Nqobizitha Nqobzen Mkhize (2nd accused, aka Angel Face)

Andrew Ndrunza Dlangamadla (3rd Accused, aka Sash Mashesha)

The families of the perpetrators

Mrs. Naidu (Judge)

Mr. Neil (investigating officer)

Mr.Ndlovu (the arresting officer)

Mr. Van Rooyen (Prosecutor)

Dr. Moosa

Gugu (Psychologist)

Kleinboy Khumalo (Senior Partner at Ngcobo &Partners Accountants)

Thokozani (Jennifer’s elder brother)

Blessing (Jennifer’s younger brother )

Stella (Blessing’s wife)

What a Sad World

Chapter One

The Attack

Yes! It was on a bright crisp night, with the moon full, when the scumbags who ruined the perfect life of the Ngcobos struck. It was precisely twenty-seven minutes after eight on the evening of Monday the 26th of April 2010. The Ngcobos were lazily seated in their stylish, up-market sitting room in the suburbs of Houghton, 2nd Avenue, watching their, or more appropriately, South Africa’s, most loved and watched soapie, Generations, on SABC One. At that juncture, SABC was showing a Pep Store advert, when the beasts, masquerading as human beings, invaded the privacy of the Ngcobos and reigned in terror, terror that set various events in the hitherto peaceful household of the Ngcobos in motion.

The events, which the said affluent family had until then refused, or had no reason, to believe could ever occur to their close-knit, loving family, were now a reality. What a tragic evening it was turning out to be.

The Ngcobos were inside, behind locked, bolted and chained doors. The criminals were supposed to all be outside, prowling around, looking for easy prey that they could devour. What is very pathetic and extremely sad is that the vultures of the sad

fateful day were mere kids, if they can be called that (which, based on their behaviour, is debatable).

It still remains one of those mysteries that linger on for a very long, sad time as to how the scoundrels gained entry to the well-secured, state-of-the-art house without being detected by the so-called state-of-the-art security that the hard working and peace loving, honourable Mr.Ngcobo had put in place. That’s the kind of security he had installed to protect his family that he adored so dearly, and to merely say that he adored his family would be an understatement of the century. Nevertheless, it’s imperative to note that Mr.Ngcobo had gone to such extreme lengths in putting such high security measures in place not due to the fact that he had a subconscious premonition that such a nasty thing could ever happen to his family, but because it was part of the décor and normal to do so in a crime-infested place like our beloved (read crime-ridden) South Africa.

Having gained entry, or more precisely beaten the high-tech security system, the three teenage boys announced their uninvited and unwelcome presence in the sitting room where all the Ngcobos were seated, watching television. The family’s helpers, the maid and gardener, saw and heard nothing since they were both in their cottages.

Call it luck that the Ngcobos were together, but I wouldn’t call it that for I believe that luck is when thorough preparation meets opportunity. The three intruders emerged into a living room that was as large as their houses and very plush; they couldn’t take it all in at once, although with one sweeping glance they all had the impression of money and more money. The house was very fancy; French windows, with original paintings, leather, glass, chrome, ankle-deep Persian rugs, concealed lighting and crystal ornaments that only the loaded members of the community could afford. To these three thugs this was exactly what they saw in the movies in their thirty-seven inch, black and white televisions back in their homes. But the most surprising thing to them, although quite in character for the house, was the largest television set that they had ever seen – a really enormous screen.

The whole family was shell-shocked to see what at prima facie appeared to be some scruffy boys brandishing guns before their eyes, unimaginable in what they had known to be their well-secured home. It took the whole family something more than a fraction of a second to register in their minds that they were face-to-face with criminals of the worst kind. The sound of a gun being cocked usually sends shivers down the spines of people, irrespective of their character and it’s no surprise that when the intruders said ‘voetsek shut up’ the family instantaneously went cold. Call it the element of surprise or whatever you wish to call it, but it’s a known fact that catastrophe rarely registers instantaneously, and this is what transpired with the Ngcobos and, as a result, none of them could move or produce any sound. No one answered, but instead looked from one face to another in bewilderment.

In short, the whole family was bamboozled, petrified and flabbergasted simultaneously. Jabulani and Jennifer’s kids looked at their father, and Jennifer looked to her husband for any cues but, to their disappointment, none came, simply because he was as confused as they were. Except for the sound of the vivacious Queen Moroka on the television set, who had no idea what the hell was going on at the Ngcobos, the silence that followed could be sliced with a knife. This unexpected silence from the Ngcobos almost led the thugs (that is the three boys) to a hysterical, stupid madness. It could be argued that the young men, if I can call them that, had nerves of steel because it should take more than the most ruthless thug to brandish their gun at such a harmless, glorious and fantastic family. One wouldn’t need to have a considerable amount of wisdom to detect that Mr.Ngcobo, the paterfamilias, could hardly harm even a fly, never mind a human being.

Imagine all this fiasco occurring on the eve of the sixteenth anniversary of a free South Africa, a free South Africa that was attained with sacrifices that would take me a year of Sundays if ever I endeavoured to elaborate upon them. This was five years, eleven months, two weeks and five days since South Africa had won the bid to host the historic FIFA world cup, the very first on African soil and most probably the very last in our life time. This was a time when all peoples of the rainbow nation were to join hands in celebrating such a glorious human achievement. It was exactly forty-six days to kick off: the kick off of the 2010 FIFA world cup, for crying out loud. For those in the dark, this is football’s most prestigious and magnetic sporting event. Believe you me, everyone who knows their soccer and even those just going with the flow were in the spirit of the world cup and hence it defies logic to comprehend how such young kids, now turned thugs, conceived of such heinous acts. Acts that human beings should have abandoned with the creation of bulbs or even a few centuries before Mugabe came into power. But what can one say? After all, a human mind is a marvellous thing, where all the good and the ugly are conceived.

It was on the eve of Freedom Day, when everyone worth their salt was supposed to be free from any bondage, so the Ngcobos, like any other normal, law-abiding citizens, had every conceivable right to be free and feel safe in the sanctuary of their home. After all, they too deserved to enjoy the tranquillity and safety that the world icon, Tata Madiba, and other, less-mentioned, struggle icons fought for. Despite everything, they had every right, if not more, to enjoy themselves in the safety (or should I say lack of safety?) of their home. Their assailants had no idea what security meant for surely, if they had, they would have respected it.

Strangely enough, these scumbags are the first to cry foul once their rights are infringed or trampled upon. These thugs who destroyed a glorious, fantastic family thought that they too had every right to do as they pleased – and they did exactly that. Forget not that here we are dealing with

Reviews for What A Sad World

[Naomi · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

The story reflects the hard truths and realities of what poverty does to maginalised africans. Instant gratification has become the goal of young black africans who perceive crime as a solution to their impoverished life. In contrast, hard work pays off and has positive outcomes as compared to a life of crime that leads to destruction, imprisonment and loss of life.

The inequalities of an imbalanced society leads to innocent members of society becoming victims of such perpetrators. However you look at it, at the end crime rates continue to escalate, as the rich becomes richer and the poor becomes poorer.