“ANGISAZI ISILUNGU”- “I do not understand English,” laments ‘pupil’

Nonhlanhla Kambule-Makgati

Fundiswa Ndaba has turned her Grandmother’s backyard into an outdoor classroom.

From left: Thando Ntombela (6), Dimakatso Motsupa (6), Nqobile Xhaso (6) Angela Tsenge (6) and their teacher Fundiswa Ndaba(14). Photos: Nonhlanhla Kambule-Makgati

FOURTEEN-year-old Fundiswa Ndaba’s name is far from being a misnomer, a name that is a direct opposite of what it means. Instead, Fundiswa is a concrete living proof of what her name stands for and, hence, lives up to it. At her tender age of only nine, this Grade Nine pupil at Job Rathebe is passionate about of education, which involves the culture learning and teaching education and teaching. This is evident in aftercare or afternoon classes she voluntarily runs from Monday to Friday, from three to five o’clock in her grandmother’s Orlando East home backyard. In addition to Fundiswa’s afternoon class-of-six, which consists of `learners’ ranging in age from four-to-six, there is three-year-old Sanele Mthembu, who only `attends’ when `she has remembered’. On this particular day that Soweto WayaWaya pays a visit, only four `learners’ have reported to class, while Zama Jobe and Kamo Motale aged five and four, respectively, are reported absent.

“I have been teaching this class-of-six from 28 April 2019 because I want them to be better at es’kolweni” explains Fundiswa, who is not just a pretty face with dimples, referring to real or formal school classes. During this visit, Soweto WayaWaya found the class in full swing at the verandah covered by green lawn and colourful flowers, yet Fundiswa is not even bothered, as she continues floating like a butterfly.

The following is a sneak preview into today’s class: Fundiswa: “Class, what do you do when you cross the road?” Class: “We look to the left, and listen, and then we look to the right, and listen”. Fundiswa: “Good,” (clapping hands). Come Sunday 26 May 2019, just a day following the Inauguration of South African President-elect Cyril Matamela Ramaphosa, Fundiswa and her class have shortly arrived back from the service at Christ the in Catholic Church, just a kneeling-and-praying distance up the sum up. Immediately after lunch, they are gathered in their space they call classroom, just for a pep up.In keeping to their word and fulfilling its promise, Soweto WayaWaya is there to meet the `born teacher’ and her obedient class, as the teacher gives an instruction that they sing the National Anthem of South Africa.

From left: Thando Ntombela (6), Dimakatso Motsupa (6), Nqobile Xhaso (6) Angela Tsenge (6) and their teacher Fundiswa Ndaba(14). With clenched-fists, Fundiswa Ndaba’s backyard class in Orlando East sing South Africa’s National anthem Nkosi Sikele’ iAfrica, but only in part as one pupil struggles with the Afrikaans part of `Die Stem’.

With their tiny arms folded across their chests, the learners class hoist their fists sky-wards, as high as they can reach, placing the palms of their hands to their chests, and solemnity soon walks one heavy step much nearer. However, the solemn mood is short-lived, and things become hilarious, just when the class is about to sing the Afrikaans part of the anthem, `…Uit die blou van ons…’“I just cannot sing `ange, ange, ange, Angisazi isiLungu”…bursts six-year-old Angela Tseng, a pupil at Khomanani Primary School in Diepkloof, in protest, meaning “I do not understand English”. Coming to pleasantries, Fundiswa advises her pupils: “Kindly introduce yourselves in English.” The first is: “I am Nqobile Xhaso.

I am 6-years-old and my school is Thembalihle Primary School,” and the teacher gives her applause, with the rest of the class following suit and cheering the slender Xhaso. Then follows another dark beauty in a denim dress with pockets: “I am Dimakatso Matsupa, and I am six years from Ditau Primary School. Next is a giggling Thando, spotting a black dress the cut of old-school-tunic, and declares: “Ma’am, mina angisazi isiLungu.”“Okay, yisho ngesiZulu” urges Fundiswa. Ntombela first blows and wipes `amafinyela’ (snort) from her nose, composes herself and says: “Mina ngingu Thando Ntombela. Ngina six, ngifunda eZakheni Primary School”.In conclusion, Ma’am Fundiswa Ndaba informs Soweto WayaWaya that her `school’ would deeply appreciate donated books for reading and also stationery to further keep the classes going.

nonhlanhla@sowetowayawaya.co.za

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