I Was There...

 

This living testimony from a layman witness and narrator is a living memory, rather than a writing or judgment of wrong and right.

I was there…

It is, first and foremost, a written manuscript by Hezekiel Kgosimang Mothupi, a 90-year-old loving and sacrificial man. These original manuscripts were written by him, with all the marks of age and wisdom in his hand. What follows is a recorded conversation, largely verbatim. An enduring testament to the clarity, devotion, and perseverance of a man who, even in his nineties, committed his reflections to writing so that memory might live on. A conversation between two generations separated not only by age, centuries, but also by experiences. It's as if the generation of biblical Moses had a chance to speak to King Solomon.

 

Well, the inexperienced Soweto Donda Mandlanzi sits down with the legendary Hezekiel Kgosimang Mothupi and records him as he narrates his life.

 

It is the story of Mr. Hezekiel Kgosimang Mothupi, a struggle veteran whose life embodies service, sacrifice, and suffering, as well as courage, endurance, and an unyielding love for South Africans (Azanians). Born at least 5 decades before me, and this was in 1932, into an era that demanded sacrifice and nothing else, he carried both the baton and the torch of resistance through the darkest years of apartheid, helping to light the path toward freedom for those who would follow or write his story, lyrically, in history, and not just his history.

 

The truth and not just his truth!

 

Now, in his nineties, frail in body but still strong in spirit, Mr. Mothupi looked back on a journey that shaped not only his life but the lives of countless old Azanians who suffered and who could not tell their stories. His voice is full of wisdom, a domain of reflection, and honesty, which forms the heart of this book. It has been my humble honour, as Soweto uDonda [uMandlanzi omkhulu, amadoda edonsa kanzima, njengemadoda edonda ngodondolo oluncane sazinyana elincane elinganamandla, sandlunzela yomele amanzi] to walk alongside not just an old man, but an

incredibly wise man in this journey and process. Though I am humbled to the point I could not untie his shoes, unschooled as a writer, I could not act cool when I knew I had limited formal education in this writing industry, like the professors in my presence. However, I carry a deep belief, a strong conviction that led to my actions, that the stories of our struggle heroes must never fade into silence. Through stretched interviews, sometimes dull for the new generation, but often humorous recordings, careful listening, and shared reflection, I helped shape, record, and write his both written and recorded memories so that they might live on for generations to come. While about seventy percent of these words come directly from Mr. Hezekiel Kgosimang Mothupi’s own recollections, thoughts, and writings or manuscripts, the remaining pages are the product of our collaboration. This became the bridge between his lived experience and the written word, or perhaps, the spoken word? This anointed partnership was not one of hierarchy but of purpose. An elder preserving truth, and a younger voice ensuring it is heard by minds, ears, and eyes not yet born. Serving the purpose of life, which is to transfer information, from one generation to another!

 

He was there…as he says, “I was there…”

 

This book is, therefore, not just history. It is a dialogue between the old and the young, between memory and the present, between lived experience and the written page.. It stands as a testament to what can be achieved when generations unite to preserve the legacy of those who gave everything for freedom.