Chapter 16 - Tuberculosis Infection

Our family of ten children and two parents lived in a two-roomed house in Alexandra. As a result, my younger brother Jonas contracted Tuberculosis.  The whole family had chest X-rays taken at the local Alexandra Clinic. Fortunately, the results were negative, except for Jonas.

A nurse was assigned to administer medication to Jonas. The medication was in the form of an intramuscular injection. This was a problem for Jonas. The nurse used to arrive early in the morning. Jonas would run away, down Hofmeyer Street.  He ran until he reached Twentieth Avenue.  His friends would be assigned to go and fetch him. The poor nurse would wait until he was brought home. He still required people to restrain him whilst the nurse administered medication. After medication, Jonas would cry for a long time.

My mother had compassion for my brother. She arranged for Jonas to ...

To read more on what Rose's mother arranged for Jonas to escape the 'torture' he was going through at the time; 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).

My younger brother, Modupi Jonas Rakoma,
 who once had TB infection.

Chapter 15 - Going Back to Alexandra Township

After completing Standard 5 in Sekuto village, I had to go back to Alexandra to do Standard 6, which was an external examination. There were no Standard 6 schools in Sekuto. The nearest school was in a village called Ga-Mothapo, which was far from my home village. The only form of transportation was an ox wagon.

I had to go back to Johannesburg at the end of 1955. My mom arranged transportation to take me to Johannesburg. There was a man who had a van which he used to transport people to and fro Johannesburg. My friends were sad to see me leave. I was also sad.
Mr Motimele, the van driver, arrived in the evening to fetch me. I sat at the back of the van with other passengers also going to Johannesburg. The trip was long and bumpy. We arrived in the morning. My family and friends were happy to see me again.

There were two gangster groups in Alexandra at the time, ...

To read more on which gangster groups were terrorizing the township at the time and the chaos they used to bring, 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).