Ukukhula Kanye NeNhlangano KaJehova ENingizimu Afrika

Njengoba ilandiswa nguFrans Muller

LAPHO mina nomfowethu uDavid sisondela esitimeleni sakusihlwa esasivame ukusigibela uma sisuka esiteshini esikhulu saseKapa, samangala ukubona uphawu oluthi “Whites Only,” (Abamhlophe Kuphela). I-Nationalist Party yayiwine ukhetho ngo-1948 futhi yase iqalise inqubo yobandlululo.

Yebo, ukwahlukaniswa ngokohlanga kwakulokhu kuqhutshwa kusukela kudala eNingizimu Afrika, njengoba kwakunjalo emazweni amaningi ase-Afrika phakathi nezikhathi zamakoloni. Kodwa manje kwase kuphoqelelwa ngumthetho, futhi sase singasavunyelwe ukuhlanganyela igumbi lesitimela nabomdabu baseNingizimu Afrika abanebala elinsundu. Eminyakeni engamashumi amane nanhlanu kamuva, ubandlululo seluyaqedwa.

Phakathi nayo yonke lenkathi yobandlululo olungokomthetho, eyaletha inselele ekuqhubeni inkonzo yethu ngendlela esasingathanda ukwenza ngayo, bengikhonza njengesikhonzi sesikhathi esigcwele soFakazi BakaJehova. Manje, eminyakeni engu-65 yobudala, ngingabheka emuva ekukhuleni okumangalisayo kwenhlangano kaJehova e-Afrika eseningizimu, futhi ngibonga kakhulu ngelungelo lokukhula kanye nayo.

Ifa LobuKristu

Lapho ubaba esemusha, njalo ekuseni kwakudingeka afundele umkhulu iBhayibheli ngokuzwakalayo. Ngokuhamba kwesikhathi uBaba waba nothando olujulile ngeZwi likaNkulunkulu. Lapho ngizalwa ngo-1928, ubaba wayekhonza emkhandlwini weSonto laseDashi ePotgietersrus. Ngalowonyaka umalume wamnika incwadi ethi The Harp of God.

Nokho, uBaba watshela uMama ukuba ayishise lencwadi, ethi yayingeyehlelo elithile lenkolo. Kodwa uMama wayigcina, futhi ngolunye usuku lapho kwenzeka nje uBaba eyithatha, yavuleka esihlokweni esithi “Does God Torment Anyone?” (Ingabe UNkulunkulu Uyabahlupha Abantu?) Nakuba ayezizwa eqinisekile ukuthi abaFundi BeBhayibheli, njengoba oFakazi BakaJehova babebizwa kanjalo ngalesosikhathi, babenephutha, ilukuluku lokufuna ukwazi lamnqoba, futhi waqala ukuyifunda. Akazange ayeke ukuyifunda lencwadi. Entathakusa, njengoba ayeyolala, wathi: “Mkami, angithandi ukukusho lokhu, kodwa, baneqiniso.”

Ngosuku olulandelayo, uBaba wahamba amakhilomitha angu-50 ngebhayisikili ukuze athole izincwadi ezengeziwe komunye wabaFundi BeBhayibheli owayeseduze. Ngaso sonke isikhathi wayefunda kuze kube kwesikabhadakazi. Wazama ngisho nokuqinisekisa umfundisi waseDashi ngalamaqiniso eBhayibheli ayewafunda, enethemba lokuthi isonto laliyokwenza izinguquko ezithile. Imizamo yakhe yaba yize, ngakho wayeka esontweni futhi waqala ukushumayela ngentshiseko. Iqiniso leBhayibheli laba yinto ebaluleke kakhulu ekuphileni kwakhe nasekhaya. Kukulendawo ezungezile engakhulela kuyo.

Kamuva, uBaba waba yiphayona, noma isikhonzi  sesikhathi esigcwele. Wahamba amabanga amade ngemoto endala i-Model T Ford ukuze ayoshumayela. Ngemva kweminyaka embalwa, izidingo zomkhaya wakithi okhulayo zamphoqa ukuba ayeke ukuphayona, kodwa waqhubeka ekhuthele emsebenzini wokushumayela. Ngamanye amaSonto sasihamba naye amakhilomitha angu-90 siyoshumayela edolobheni lasePietersburg.

Ibhizinisi Eliphumelelayo

Ekugcineni uBaba wavula isitolo esincane. Ngokushesha sanda ngokuphindwe kabili, futhi kwavulwa esesibili. Abalimi abathile abacebile benza isivumelwano sokusebenza ngokubambisana noBaba, futhi ngokuhamba kwesikhathi, bendawonye bavula isitolo esikhulu kanye nezitolo ezincane eziyisithupha ezazisakazeke yonke indawo.

Abanye babafowethu abadala bangenela ezamabhizinisi futhi manje base benamathemba okuceba. Nokho, ingokomoya lethu laqala ukulimala. Saqala ukwamukeleka kakhudlwana kubangane nomakhelwane bezwe, ababesimemela emadilini abo. Ebona ingozi, uBaba wabiza umhlangano womkhaya futhi wanquma ukuthengisa ibhizinisi futhi sithuthele ePitoli ukuze sikwazi ukwenza okwengeziwe enkonzweni kaJehova. Washiya isitolo esisodwa kuphela, esasinakekelwa yizisebenzi eziqashiwe.

Abafowethu uKoos noDavid baqala ukuphayona, ngaleyondlela behlanganyela nodadewethu omdala, uLina. Ngenye inyanga ngo-1942, umkhaya wakithi wabantu abayishumi wasebenza amahora angu-1 000 emsebenzini wokushumayela. Ngalowonyaka ngabonakalisa ukunikezela ukuphila kwami kuJehova ngokucwiliswa emanzini.

Okwenza Ukuba Ngishiye Isikole Ngokushesha

Ngo-1944, lapho iMpi Yezwe II ifinyelele umvuthwandaba wayo, uGert Nel, umbonisi ojikelezayo woFakazi BakaJehova, wangibuza ukuthi ngilungiselela ukungenela izinhlu zamaphayona yini. “Yebo,” ngiphendula, “eminyakeni emibili, lapho ngiqeda esikoleni esiphakeme.”

Ebonisa umbono woFakazi BakaJehova abaningi ngalesosikhathi, waxwayisa: “Qaphela ukuba i-Armagedoni ingakufici usahlezi emabhentshini esikole.” Njengoba ngangingafuni ukuba lokho kwenzeke, ngashiya esikoleni futhi ngangenela umsebenzi wamaphayona ngo-January 1, 1945.

Isabelo sami sokuqala saba seVereeniging, eduze naseGoli, futhi engangiphayona nabo kwakunguPiet Wentzel noDanie Otto. Ngokuvamile ngangisebenza amahora angaphezu kuka-200 ngenyanga ngishumayela. Ngokuhamba kwesikhathi, uPiet waphinde wabelwa edolobheni lasePitoli, futhi uDanie kwadingeka ayeke ukuphayona ukuze asize uyise osekhulile epulazini. Lokhu kwangishiya ngiwukuphela kukaFakazi okwakufanele anakekele izifundo zeBhayibheli zasekhaya ezingu-23 eVereeniging.

Ngokushesha ngemva kwalokho, ngathola incwadi evela ehhovisi legatsha eyayingabela ePitoli. Nakuba ngangingasiqondi isizathu salesisabelo esisha ngalesosikhathi, kamuva ngaqaphela ukuthi kwakungeke kube okuhlakaniphile ukuyishiya yodwa insizwa eneminyaka engu-17 engenakho okuhlangenwe nakho. Ngangisadinga ukuqeqeshwa okwengeziwe futhi ngangingase ngidumale.

Ngemva kokukhonza ePitoli nokuthola okuhlangenwe nakho okudingekayo, ngamenywa ukuba  ngibe iphayona elikhethekile. Khona-ke mina noPiet Wentzel sahlela ukunikeza ukuqeqesha okuwusizo enkonzweni entsheni eyayizophayona ePitoli. Ngalesosikhathi uPiet wase abelwe ukukhonza njengombonisi ojikelezayo kuleyondawo. Kamuva washada nodadewethu uLina, futhi manje bakhonza ndawonye ehhovisi legatsha laseNingizimu Afrika.

Phakathi kwalabo abeza ukuzophayona ePitoli kwakunoMartie Vos, intokazi ekhangayo eyayikhuliswe emkhayeni woFakazi. Sathandana, kodwa sasisebasha, sisebancane kakhulu ukuba singashada. Nokho, lapho sithola izabelo kwezinye izindawo, saqhubeka sixhumana ngokubhalelana.

Inkonzo Yase-Bethel NeSikole SaseGileyadi

Ngo-1948, ngamenyelwa ukuzokhonza ehhovisi legatsha le-Watch Tower Society eKapa. Ngalesosikhathi, yayingekho indawo yokuhlalisa abantu abangu-17 ndawonye njengoba sasisebenzela emahhovisi amathathu aqashiwe nasefekthri encane eseduze. Abanye bethu babehlala nemikhaya ethile, futhi abanye behlala ezindlini eziqashisayo.

Usuku ngalunye lokusebenza, amalungu angu-17 omkhaya wase-Bethel ayehlangana ndawonye egunjini lokushintshela lasefekthri encane ukuze aqhube ukukhulekela kwasekuseni. Abaningi bethu kwakudingeka sizilungiselele ukudla kwethu siqu kwasemini. Khona-ke, ngemva komsebenzi wosuku olugcwele, sasihamba siye ezindaweni zethu zokuhlala ezisezingxenyeni ezihlukahlukene zeKapa. Kwakukolunye lwaloluhambo, njengoba sengiphawulile kakade, lapho mina nomfowethu uDavid samangazwa khona uphawu oluthi, “Whites Only.”

Lapho ngifika okokuqala ehhovisi legatsha eKapa, ngaqaphela ukuthi kwakusenokuningi okwakumelwe ngikufunde, ngakho ngabuza uMzalwan’ uPhillips, umbonisi wethu wegatsha: “Yini okumelwe ngiyenze ukuze ngifinyelele ezingeni labanye?”

“Frans,” ephendula, “ungakhathazeki ngokufinyelela ezingeni labanye. Wena qhubeka!” Ngiye ngazama ngaso sonke isikhathi ukwenza lokho, futhi ngiye ngathola ukuthi ngokuhambisana nalokho inhlangano kaJehova ekunikezayo ngendlela yokudla okungokomoya nesiqondiso, umuntu uyoqhubeka ekhula kanye nayo.

Ngo-1950, ngamenywa ukuba ngibe sekilasini le-16 le-Watchtower Bible School of Gilead ukuze ngiqeqeshelwe ukuba yisithunywa sevangeli. Lesikole ngalesosikhathi sasineNingizimu yeLansing, eNew York, cishe okungamakhilomitha angu-400 ukuya enyakatho yeBrooklyn, eNew York. Lapho ngisebenza njengesisebenzi sesikhashana endlunkulu yomhlaba wonke yoFakazi BakaJehova eBrooklyn, ngazibonela ngawami sona kanye isikhungo esiyinhloko senhlangano kaJehova ebonakalayo. Ukuzinikela ngomphefumulo wonke kwalabo ababehola lapho kwangenza ngagcwala ukwazisa okujulile ngenhlangano kaJehova.

Inkonzo Yami Eqhubekayo

Ngemva kokubuyela eNingizimu Afrika, ngamiswa ukuba ngikhonze njengombonisi ojikelezayo enyakatho yeTransvaal, lapho ngangikhulele khona. Ngemva kokubhalelana izincwadi iminyaka eyisithupha, mina noMartie sashada ngo-December 1952, futhi wahlanganyela nami emsebenzini wokujikeleza. Ukwazisa abafowethu abangamaKristu ababenakho ngokubahambela kwethu kwakujabulisa.

Ngokwesibonelo, ngesinye isikhathi lapho sikhonza ibandla elisemphakathini wabalimi, sahlala nomkhaya owaxolisa ngokungabi nalo ubisi lokufaka etiyeni noma ekhofini. Kamuva sathola ukuthi wawuyithengisile okuwukuphela kwenkomazi yawo yobisi ukuze ukwazi ukuba nemali eyanele yokuthenga uphethiloli wokusiyisa ezingxenyeni ezikude zensimu yawo ukuze sifakaze kubalimi. Yeka indlela esasibathanda ngayo abazalwane abanjalo!

Ngezinye izikhathi ngangizizwa ngingawufanelekeli umsebenzi wesifunda, ikakhulukazi lapho ngisebenza ngezinkinga ezihilela abantu asebekhulile. Ngesinye isikhathi ngake ngazizwa ngiphansi ngokomzwelo kangangokuthi ngatshela uMartie ukuthi kwakungafanele amangale uma siphinde sabelwa emsebenzini wokuphayona ngenxa yokuntula kwami okuhlangenwe nakho. Wangiqinisekisa ukuthi wayengakujabulela ukukhonza kunoma yimuphi umkhakha uma nje sasizohlala sisenkonzweni yesikhathi esigcwele.

Cabanga ukumangala esaba nakho lapho sifika  ebandleni elilandelayo futhi iposi lethu linencwadi yesabelo sokukhonza emsebenzini wesigodi! Cishe iminyaka emibili, sasihambela iNingizimu Afrika neNamibia, ngalesosikhathi eyayibizwa ngokuthi iNingizimu-ntshonalanga Afrika. Nokho, ngenxa yesimiso sobandlululo, ngokuvamile umsebenzi wethu wawunzima. Ngokuphindaphindiwe sasenqatshelwa ukunikezwa izimvume zokungena emalokishini abansundu futhi ngezinye izikhathi sasinganikezwa izimvume zokuqhuba imihlangano.

Ngokwesibonelo, ngo-1960 sathola imvume yokuqhuba umhlangano wesigodi eSoweto. Abazalwane abansundu abavela emabandleni akude kakade base bewathengile amathikithi esitimela nawamabhasi ukuze babe khona, kodwa uhulumeni wezwa ngamalungiselelo ethu futhi wayichitha imvume. Ngokuhlakanipha, saya komunye unsumpa onobungane edolobheni elisebangeni lamakhilomitha angu-20 ukuya ngalé kweGoli. Ngomusa wasilungiselela izindawo ezingcono ngisho nakakhulu, futhi saba nomhlangano omuhle kakhulu, owajatshulelwa abangaphezu kuka-12 000!

Yeka indlela isimo esiye sashintsha ngayo eminyakeni yamuva! Manje, njengoba ubandlululo luqedwa, siyakwazi ukuhlangana ndawonye ngokukhululekile nomaphi ezindaweni zabansundu, abamhlophe, abebala, noma ezamaNdiya. Bonke abantu, kungakhathaliseki uhlanga, bangahlala ndawonye futhi bajabulele ukuhlangana. Ukwehluka kwezilimi kuphela okuthonya indawo umuntu angathanda ukuhlala kuyo.

Isifundo Esibuhlungu

Emuva ngo-1947, ubaba wenza iphutha elikhulu. Isitolo sakhe, esisebangeni elingamakhilomitha angu-200 ukusuka lapho yena noMama babehlala khona, saqala ukungakhiqizi ngenxa yabaphathi abangathembekile, ngakho waphindela emuva yedwa ukuze ayoziphathela ngokwakhe. Ukwehlukana kwakhe noMama isikhathi eside kwaphumela ekubeni awele esilingweni. Ngenxa yalokho, wasuswa ekuhlanganyeleni.

Lokhu kwagcizelela kimi ngendlela ebuhlungu ukuthi ukushisekela iqiniso leBhayibheli akwanele. Sonke kumelwe sibambelele ezimisweni zeBhayibheli. (1 Korinte 7:5) Ngemva kweminyaka eminingi, uBaba wabuyiselwa ekuhlanganyeleni njengengxenye yebandla lobuKristu futhi wakhonza ngokwethembeka kwaze kwaba sekufeni kwakhe ngo-1970. Umama wami othandekayo waqhubeka ethembekile waze wafa ngo-1991.

Izibusiso Ezengeziwe

Ngo-1958, mina noMartie saba khona emhlanganweni omkhulu kunayo yonke kweyake yaqhutshwa oFakazi BakaJehova, eYankee Stadium nasePolo Grounds eNew York. Samane nje sagcwala injabulo ngokuba yingxenye yenhlangano kaJehova emangalisayo. Ukuba phakathi kwalesosixuku esikhulu sababengaphezu kuka-253 000 ngeSonto ntambama kwakungokuhlangenwe nakho esingasoze sakukhohlwa. Kithina, sasibona ukuba ngokoqobo ‘kwesixuku esikhulu esivela kuzo zonke izizwe’ sihlangene ndawonye ngokuthula. (IsAmbulo 7:9, 10) UMartie wasala eNew York ukuze abe seSikoleni saseGileyadi, futhi mina ngaphindela emsebenzini wesigodi eNingizimu Afrika.

Ngo-1959, ngemva kokuba uMartie ebuyile evela ekilasini lama-32 leSikole saseGileyadi, samenyelwa ukuyokhonza ehhovisi legatsha laseNingizimu Afrika, ngalesosikhathi elalise-Elandsfontein, empumalanga yeGoli. Phakathi neminyaka edlule, ngiye ngabona ukuthuthuka kwenhlangano ngezindlela eziningi, ikakhulukazi ukukhula kwayo othandweni nozwela. Ngiye ngabona ukuthi uJehova uqondisa inhlangano yakhe ngoJesu Kristu futhi uyosebenzisa labo abazenza batholakale.

Ngo-1962, ngaphindela eBrooklyn, eNew York, ukuze ngiyothatha izifundo zokuqeqeshelwa umsebenzi wegatsha ezithatha izinyanga eziyishumi. Lokhu kwabonakala kuwusizo lapho, ngo-1967, ngimiswa njengombonisi wegatsha laseNingizimu Afrika. Ngo-1976, kwamiswa amaKomiti amaGatsha, ngakho manje umthwalo wemfanelo wokwenza izinqumo ezibalulekile eNingizimu Afrika usemahlombe abadala abayisihlanu abangamaKristu abanokuhlangenwe nakho.

Ukuphila Ngaphansi Kobandlululo

Imithetho yobandlululo yathinta ukusebenza kwegatsha lethu. Lapho iKhaya lase-Bethel lase-Elandsfontein lakhiwa ngo-1952, umthetho wafuna ukuba kunezelwe esinye isakhiwo ngemuva ukuze kuhlaliswe abazalwane abansundu nabebala.  Futhi umthetho wawufuna ukuba badle bodwa bangahlangani nabelungu badlele ezindaweni ezazibizwa ngokuthi ezaboMdabu. Kamuva, bahlelelwa ukuba badlele ekhishini lase-Bethel. Lena kwakuyindlela okwakudliwa ngayo lapho sifika e-Bethel ngo-1959. Ngangingavumelani ngokuphelele nalokhu kwehlukaniswa ngenxa yohlanga.

Ngokuhamba kwesikhathi, uhulumeni wayihoxisa imvume yokuhlalisa abafowethu abansundu esakhiweni esingemuva kwesakhiwo esiyinhloko seKhaya lase-Bethel. Labazalwane kwadingeka ukuba bayohlala emalokishini abansundu aqhele cishe ngamakhilomitha angu-20. Abanye babehlala emakhaya aqashisayo futhi abanye behlala emahositela abesilisa. Lesimo esingathandeki saqhubeka iminyaka eminingi.

Ukwandiswa Kwe-Bethel

Phakathi nalesosikhathi, i-Bethel yase-Elandsfontein kwadingeka ukuba yandiswe. Ngemva kokuyandisa izikhathi ezintathu, sase sifinyelele ekugcineni kwendawo yethu. INdikimba Ebusayo yasiqondisa ukuthi kufanele sifune indawo entsha lapho kuthenjwa khona ukuthi iziphathimandla zendawo ziyosivumela ukuba sakhe isakhiwo esikhulu sase-Bethel lapho kungahlala khona nabafowethu abansundu. Njalo ekuseni umkhaya wase-Bethel wawuthandazela ukuba ngandlela-thile uJehova avule indlela.

Yeka usuku olujabulisayo okwaba yilo lapho ekugcineni sithola indawo efanelekayo emaphethelweni eKrugersdorp, ukuya ngasentshonalanga yeGoli! Nokho, nalapha kwafuneka ukuba sakhe isakhiwo esihlukile sabafowethu abansundu. Savuma ukwenza kanjalo kodwa asiyitholanga imvume yokuhlalisa abantu abansundu abangaphezu kuka-20. Ngokujabulisayo, maphakathi nawo-1980, izinto zaqala ukushintsha. Uhulumeni wathambisa imithetho yakhe eqinile yobandlululo, futhi abazalwane abengeziwe abansundu, abebala, nabamaNdiya bamenyelwa ukuzokhonza kanye nathi e-Bethel.

Manje sinomkhaya wase-Bethel ojabulayo, onobunye, lapho abantu ngabanye, kungakhathaliseki uhlanga noma ibala, bengahlala kunoma yisiphi sezakhiwo abazikhethayo. Futhi, ngemva kweminyaka eminingi yokulwa kanzima, ekugcineni saqashelwa ngokomthetho njengenkolo. Kuye kwamiswa inhlangano yendawo engokomthetho ebhaliswe ngokuthi “Jehovah’s Witnesses of South Africa.” Manje sesinabashadisi bethu, futhi ezindaweni zabansundu, amaHholo OMbuso aqhibuka njengamakhowe.

Yeka indlela inhlangano kaJehova eye yathuthuka ngayo kusukela ezinsukwini zakudala lapho ngikhonza ehhovisi legatsha laseKapa! Kusukela emkhayeni omncane onamalungu angu-17 ongenalo iKhaya lase-Bethel, manje siye sakhula saba umkhaya waseBethel wabangaphezu kuka-460, onesakhiwo sase-Bethel esikhulu esinama-computer ayinkimbinkimbi, imishini yokunyathelisa ye-rotary, neKhaya elihle lase-Bethel! Yebo, ngiye ngaba nelungelo lokukhula kanye nenhlangano kaJehova eNingizimu Afrika. Siye sanda sisukela kubamemezeli boMbuso abacishe babe ngu-400 lapho ngiqala enkonzweni eminyakeni engaba ngu-50 edlule safinyelela kwabacishe babe ngu-55 000 namuhla!

Ngibonga uJehova ngokuthi, eminyakeni engu-40 edlule, ngiye ngaba nomfazi ongisekelayo eduze kwami. “Indebe yami iyachichima.” (IHubo 23:5) Mina noMartie siyabonga ngokuba yingxenye yenhlangano kaJehova eqondiswa umoya futhi sizimisele ukuqhubeka sikhonza uJehova endlini yakhe, e-Bethel, nokuhambisana nenhlangano yakhe eqhubekela phambili.

[Amabalazwe ekhasini 19]

(Ukuze ubone ukuthi indaba ihlelwe kanjani, bheka encwadini)

ANGOLA

ZAIRE

ZAMBIA

ZIMBABWE

BOTSWANA

NAMIBIA

SWAZILAND

LESOTHO

SOUTH AFRICA

Pretoria

Johannesburg

Cape Town

Port Elizabeth

SOUTH ATLANTIC OCEAN

INDIAN OCEAN

MOZAMBIQUE CHANNEL

[Isithombe ekhasini 20]

UPiet Wentzel noFrans Muller (ngakweso-kunxele) emsebenzini wamaphayona ngo-1945

[Isithombe ekhasini 23]

UFrans noMartie Muller