We have no choice but to lean on each other in these times
A Carl Niehaus wannabe was arrested in midweek for murder.
Well, not murder-murder, but murder nonetheless.
The story goes that this sorry excuse of a human being decided to hop into his automobile and drive it in the direction of town.
During his joyride, the amateur murderer didn’t count upon chancing on a roadblock of law-enforcement authorities tasked with enforcing the lockdown regulations.
The cops established that he was not an essential worker and therefore had no business being on the road.
The bloody bugger dropped a clanger when questioned about why he was on the road when he should be at home.
Our not-so-intelligent Einstein killed off his grandmother.
The murder he wrote is a yarn that’s been told many a time to traffic officers by offenders of the road rules.
Unlucky for him, the lawmen didn’t fall for his rambling, implausible tale.
The truth had to out.
The guy who may or may not have been adversely affected by social distancing blurted out the real reason he was on the road — he was on his way to Randburg to see his girlfriend.
I guess self-isolation is harmful to hanky-panky. Perhaps he could have resorted to the armed struggle if he had developed a long-standing problem. But that’s a story for after 21 days.
The day his grandmother dies a real death, she will spin in her grave knowing her grandson killed her off for some girl.
This guy’s action migrated the conversation in my head to funerals during the state of a national lockdown due to the outbreak of the Covid-19 pandemic afflicting the country.
Mabel Khumalo is a grandmother to the children of her retired soccer star son Doctor Khumalo.
The wife of the late former Moroka
This pandemic is a game changer which has enforced new rules of engagement
Swallows and Kaizer Chiefs stalwart Eliakim “Pro” Khumalo was laid to rest on Friday.
Does this render Doctor, whose father died thanks to the dastardly deeds of hijackers, an orphan now that both his parents are gone?
Not a chance.
From the moment 16 Valve zoomed into the consciousness of the nation with his contribution in Bafana Bafana’s sole Africa Cup of Nations triumph in 1996, he ceased being a Khumalo child. He became a Khumalo son.
The reality of our society is that we bury each other in our hundreds.
But Covid-19 line of march dictates 50 people per funeral, reducing attendance to just some members of the family if you consider that most of us have extended families and clans that extend to hundreds.
Like with many facets of our lives this pandemic is a game changer.
It has enforced new rules of engagement.
It has altered how we live, work (for those still lucky enough to hold on to a job), wed, bury.
Even when it is over — God knows when — our world will never be the same.
My trip to work includes a drive down a stretch of Beyers Naude.
West Park cemetery is one of the landmarks of my journey.
Normally, the solemn procession entering and snaking to the graveyard stretches into kilometres of cars and buses.
Yesterday morning, I spotted a cortege which comprised of a convoy of no more than 30 cars approaching the burial ground gate manned by several officers of the law.
I wondered what happens.
What do you do?
Who comes or stays away from the family? From the congregation? From the stokvel society?
From colleagues at the office? Today is only day 10 of the lockdown. Be safe. Stay home. Take care.
We have no choice but to lean on each other, ala Bill Withers. RIP crooner. Twitter:@bbkunplugged99