Chapter 10 - The Initiation School

I was surprised one day when my paternal grandfather's second wife came to fetch me.  She took me to the initiation school for women.  I was both curious and excited because I always wanted to discover the secrets of the initiation school.  No one, except the initiates and the instructors, was supposed to know what happened at the initiation school.  Should any initiate disclose any secret information, she would be summoned to the chief to give account.  There were rumours that said that if you told others about what happened at the initiation school, you would become insane or even die.

The initiation school was held at the local herdsman's home at a mountainous area and accepted about thirty girls at any time.  Our uniform was animal skin.  We had to wear animal skin every day.  As a result, our waist started to itch because we became infested with lice.

The first person to undertake any task at the school was the headman's daughter. She was supposed to go first so that she can test the safety of...


To learn more on what the headman's daughter underwent at the initiation school; buy the book at: https://www.amazon.com/Memories-Life-Alexandra-Township-Know/dp/1483693805 (Amazon) or http://www.takealot.com/the-memories-of-my-life-in-alexandra-township-i-know/PLID36786983 (Takealot).

Chapter 9 - In and Out of the Rural Area

Living in the rural areas was difficult at that time. The transport system was appalling. We used cattle-drawn wagons to go to town. Our village was surrounded by mountains, hills, and rivers.

When I first left Alexandra for Pietersburg with my uncle, we used a train. We boarded a bus to Johannesburg Park station. When we got there, my uncle did not buy me a ticket. I was still very young. The train examiner came and asked me to touch my left ear over the head with my right finger. If my hand did not reach my left ear, then I wouldn't have to pay.

During school holidays, I used to travel to Alexandra with my uncle. My uncle used to hide me under the bed in the train so that I wouldn't have to pay. When the train examiner came in to check the tickets, I would lay still and only come out after he left.

When I arrived in Pietersburg, the guy called Monnana would give me a ride to my grandmother's house on his bicycle. The road was terrible. It had a lot of stones and potholes. The journey was unpleasant.

My grandmother would be very happy to see me and would slaughter a ....


To read more on Rose's welcoming ceremony; buy the book at: https://www.amazon.com/Memories-Life-Alexandra-Township-Know/dp/1483693805 (Amazon) or http://www.takealot.com/the-memories-of-my-life-in-alexandra-township-i-know/PLID36786983 (Takealot).

Chapter 8 - Minor Ailments

Sometime later whilst living with my grandparents, I developed an infection in my left eye. It started itching and was painful and sticky in the morning. The eye was lachrymating and very sensitive to light. Gradually my eye was getting smaller and smaller.

My friend Masali was asked to look into my eye to see if there was any foreign body. She saw white spot on my cornea. My grandmother checked my eye also but saw nothing. Masali was called. She was asked to prick her right index finger and squeeze the blood into my eye. This was according to our custom because she was the first one to see white spot on my cornea. After a few days, there was still no improvement.

I then decided to write a letter to Mom informing her of my situation. She quickly informed my uncle, Mr Phineas Maponya. He was a teacher at a nearby village called Laaste Hoop.  He took me to a doctor in Pietersburg in his car. The doctor gave me an injection, medication, and eye drops. The infection was gone within a few days. It was a real miracle especially considering my friend's blood. I thank God and my uncle's swift action. If it was not for them, I would have lost my vision.

My brother Johannes developed a skin infection. He had sores all over his body. As a result, he could not ...

My younger brother, Johannes "Mokolobetsi"
 Rakoma, who once developed a skin infection.

To find out more about Johannes' condition; buy the book at: https://www.amazon.com/Memories-Life-Alexandra-Township-Know/dp/1483693805 (Amazon) or http://www.takealot.com/the-memories-of-my-life-in-alexandra-township-i-know/PLID36786983 (Takea