My pregnancy is progressing well. 

I’ve graduated, and since the lodge has also taken off, I’m giving myself a gap year to just have my baby and monitor the game lodge. It’s going well so far. 

Molise and Molefe are the ones that make the trips to go check in on the place. Sometimes Mmaneo goes with them. Me, I have to limit my travelling. I’m forever in pain. If my ass is not in pain, my hip is in pain. Or it’s my calf, or my back. But I have a lot more support with this pregnancy. Molise is really here. It’s as if he’s making up for his absence in my last two pregnancies. He even send nurses to do my checks when he’s travelling to our lodge. He’s stopped travelling for work. He says he will resume travelling after his paternity leave – which he’s chosen for it to be six months. 

I hope I’ll enjoy having him around for the six months hey. Six months is a very long time to be irritated by someone on a full time basis. 

I’ve dropped the kids off at school. Now, I’m doing breakfast with my girls. It’s long overdue. Wehweh and I are preggie mates. Ruri is planning to have another one. We also found out last week that Mapho is preggy too. We are just moms. It’s honestly crazy. Then ngapha Wehweh is also getting married next week. That’s why we are meeting up today. She leaves for home tomorrow to prepare for her wedding. 

“Hey”, I greet as I arrive. I’m the last one to arrive. 

“HEY!!!” They all shout. 

We are at one of Mnqobi’s establishments, so we make this noise because we are allowed and when we are here, it’s a matter of “nizosenzani?!” Plus, security is here to protect us because I’m a VIP in this country by association. 

After we’ve hugged each other and said hi, we order our meals. 

Mnqobi walks in. He comes to say hi to us. We overwhelm him on purpose and he considers walking away. We all laugh at him. 

“Love, we need to hit the road in the next hour. We are flying out, okay?” Mnqobi says to Wehweh. 

“Alright my baby. We will be done”, Wehweh says as she kisses her man.

So cute. 

Catching up with the girls is just nice. We are all so busy. But we love the fact that we are all doing so well in our lives. This is where we love to meet each other as friends. This is what our squads need to look like. 

“So Ruri, we received a letter from Thendo. She’s requesting to be allowed back into the kingdom to finish her studies and possibly find employment opportunities here”, Mapho says.

Thendo mara. 

Ruri is instantly triggered. 

“We’ve obviously had to go back to our reasons as to why we need to open doors for foreigners in our country for opportunities that they can get in their own countries. Not all of us are trying to be South Africa where it’s a free for all: “come one come all and benefit off our weakness”, Mapho says.

As a South African, I’m offended by this. 

“Bathong Mapho, SA has its flaws but it’s not that deep”, Wehweh says. 

Yoh! 

Thank goodness! 

The way people in this kingdom don’t rate our country. 

“So why does Thendo want to come back?! Are there no men she can prostitite herself to that side? South Africa has universities. Why must she come to ours? She couldn’t even make it past the first semester! All she made it past was my man”, Ruri says. 

Why is Mapho telling us this?! 

“Well, I’m bringing this up because I wanted to let you know that we declined her access back into our country. There’s nothing that she’s asking for in our country that she can’t get in her country of birth.” Mapho says. 

She should’ve started with that. 

“Thank you, Mapho. Look, I know that we don’t exactly get rid of people because they are whores. I know that a large part of this was a favour. And I’ll never forget it. Kea leboha”, Ruri says. 

So tense!

But you can just see that Ruri’s day is ruined. 

“Wehweh, how are things between you and your mother-in-law?” I ask her. I’m taking the heat off Ruri, but this has also been something we’ve always spoken about. 

“I don’t know, hey. I think we are learning to understand each other. I’ve also asked Palesa to teach me certain things because Palesa does well in the makoti space”, Wehweh says.

“You know that you’ll also have to show up in that space, right? I mean, now you get away with doing the bare minimum because you and Mnqobi are not married. But once you are married, you’d have to be as active as Palesa if not more considering that you are a younger makoti… and by younger, you married the younger brother”, Ruri says.

“I’m going to do my best. I know that we didn’t hit it off from day one. But I’m trying. I’ve involved her in my pregnancy. She’s met my mother. I’m even fixing things with my mom so that I can be this person that I need to be in this family. Mnqobi thinks that I’m detached from family values because I have such a weird relationship with my mother. But it’s getting better”, Wehweh says.

“I don’t think you are detached. When I look at you and Sasi, there’s no detachment there at all. You just want to be in control everywhere you go. And it doesn’t work like that. Being a makoti is a thankless job. No one will ever thank you for how much you do. And everyone will always point out the shit while not celebrating the great stuff that you do. You have to stay humble through it all”, Mapho says. 

“I’m worried about your relationship with Palesa”, I say.

“Why?” Wehweh asks me.

“There will be times where the instructions will be coming from her. And you may see that as her trying to flex her weight. You were telling me the other day that your relationship with Banathi has changed and that you think he doesn’t like you anymore. If you and Palesa fight, then decide to involve those brothers… the brothers will either fight, or you’ll have everyone not liking you. Your entry in that family could divide the family if you don’t show up the way you are expected to show up, Wehweh”, I say. 

The ladies agree with me.

Wehweh is now feeling emotional. 

“Marriage is the stuff that happen after the wedding day.” Ruri says.

“So what must I do? Guys, I’m trying”, Wehweh says.

“When you feel like being a bitch, talk to us and ask us if it’s warranted… even if it’s in the group. We are all here for each other. Hopefully, by the time that conversation is over, you’ll be laughing so much that youll eat shit with a smile”, Ruri says.

We all laugh, but agree. 

Then…

In walks Mnqobi’s baby mama into the establishment. 

She charges past everyone and seems to be headed to Mnqobi’s office. 

The last time that this lunatic did this, there was a sex tape involving her and Mnqobi. We are not taking these chances a week before Wehweh’s wedding. 

The security prevents her from walking in any further. 

“I NEED TO SPEAK TO MNQOBI!” She yells. 

The security doesn’t say anything to her. They keep pushing her towards the door.

Now Wehweh gets up. 

I see Ruri texting something to someone.

“I’m telling Mnqobi to come down and sort this out”, Ruri says to Mapho, but I catch it too. 

People already have their phones out. Now we are going to be famous. Oh gosh! 

“Lindiwe, what’s your problem?” Wehweh asks her.

“I need to speak to the father of my child. And I don’t need anyone’s permission to do that. Now tell this security to let me pass”, Lindiwe says. 

“No.” Wehweh says.

“No?!” Lindiwe.

“No!” Wehweh repeats.

Mnqobi runs in. Banathi is with him. Thank God! Banathi has sense. He’s a good problem-solver. 

“LINDIWE, UFUNANI LA?!” Mnqobi is already mad. 

“WE NEED TO TALK!” Lindiwe insists. She’s even crying.

“ABOUT WHAT?!” Mnqobi.

“Mnqobi, it’s private. And it’s serious. Please, I’m asking”, Lindiwe. 

Mnqobi doesn’t buy it. 

Lindiwe whispers something in Wehweh’s ear. 

Wehweh almost faints. 

Mnqobi goes to Wehweh.

“Sasi has been arrested”, Wehweh tells Mnqobi. 

Yoh!

…

As a married woman and mom, I can’t just up and leave to go support my friend in such circumstances. We all couldn’t go to South Africa with Wehweh to go be there for her. But all the Khuzwayos left with her. But she is keeping us updated on the chat. 

Sasi snd her siblings were visiting in Mhluzi – Lindiwe’s parents’ house. Apparently, Banks had stopped all visits to Mhluzi. Lindiwe went over his ahead while he was at an away game, and took them to visit her mother. The mother’s husband tried to rape Sasi, and Sasi stabbed him in defence. The other siblings then joined in by grabbing knives and stabbing him too. They all sat around the body bleeding out while Lindiwe’s mother cried her lungs out. The neighbours called the cops. The mother told the cops that the kids killed her man. The kids got arrested. 

When Mnqobi heard all of this, he lost his mind. He attacked Lindiwe so badly. Lindiwe is now in ICU. Mnqobi is also in prison. It’s a mess.

Wehweh’s dad has got involved. He’s quite influential in South Africa, so he’s pulling strings to resolve this. Wehweh is stressed. She’s supposed to be preparing for her wedding bathong! 

By the time it’s time for me to go and fetch my kids from school, please note that I’ve been updating Molise all day on this drama – I’m so glad he’s coming back home today – Mnqobi is out of jail and Sasi is also out of jail…. She and her siblings. Banks has got Lindiwe and her mother arrested for basically selling these kids to that man for rape. His argument is that this man has been raping Lindiwe from childhood. There’s a reason why he never allowed the kids to go there. Now, the mother requested the kids to visit her because that man wanted to rape them. Since the three kids are actually his, he targeted Sasi who is the only child that isn’t his. This is how we got here. The mother is in a cell. Lindiwe is still in ICU, but she is under police custody. 

Sasi will be moving in with Wehweh and Mnqobi full time, and Lindiwe will no longer have any visitation rights. They are fighting this legally. Good for them! 

“Hello mommy”.

“HI mama”.

“Hey mah”.

My kids greet me as they get into the car. They all go to the same school. Molemo is in the high school. Phupho is in the primary school. And Lelapa is in the grade R of the school. I park my car at the grade R area, and the older ones walk there to catch a ride with us.

“How was your day?” I ask them.

“It was boring. I don’t like Grade R. I want to join the grade 2s”, says Lelapa the great. 

“It doesn’t work that way, Lapa. You actually have to pass grade R and grade 1 first”, Phupho says. 

Molemo looks upset. He’s on his phone, typing viciously. I must audit that phone. 

“How was your day, Phupho?” I ask my little madam. 

“It was fine. We got our tests back today and I don’t agree with my teacher giving me half a mark for writing Northern Province instead of Limpopo.” Phupho says.

“Hawu Phupho, but it has been Limpopo for such a long time. How do you get that wrong?” I ask her.

“No mommy, that’s not fair. I grew up in Tholoana Kingdom. And the map that I had to study from said Northern Province, not Limpopo.” Phupho says. 

I don’t know how I feel about raising my kids only in this kingdom when I’m South African. I think I need to speak to Molise about going on holidays in South Africa so these kids know their maternal roots. Plus, after what Mapho and Ruri said about South Africa this morning, I’m more sensitive about this. For all I know, they teach this attitude in school. 

We get home and everyone has to go and change out of their school uniform. 

“Molemo, two minutes please”, I say.

Phupho and Lapa pull a face as if he’s in trouble. He’s actually not in trouble hey. I just want to understand why he’s in a mood. 

As soon as the little ones have disappeared into their rooms, I begin. 

“Is everything okay, my boy? You seem a bit upset. Did something happen at school?” 

“Mah, please promise me that you won’t be mad at me”, he says.

Ey, I can’t make such promises without context.

“What’s going on, Molemo?” I ask him.

He shows me his phone.

His mother is basically extorting him and now she wants R25 000 from him, else she will come and fetch him and send him back to the Nigerians. This is what the text says.

“How long has this been going on for, Molemo?” I ask him.

He becomes emotional. 

“Talk to me. I’m your mother, right?” Me.

He nods his head. 

“How long has this been going on for?” I ask him. 

“Since three months ago, mah”, he says.

“Give me her number then block her on all your platforms. I’ll deal with this”, I say:

He nods his head, then hugs me. 

Rubbish!