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The Orphan's Voices
Sihle's Story
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Sihle's Story
I am 13 years old. I live at Takitsi. I live with my sister. She is 23 years old. She works as a farm labourer. I have four sisters and one brother. We all live at home. Only my sister is working.
My parents died. First, my father, then my mother. I don't remember them much. I was five when they died.
I have never been to school. There's no money. I would like to get a chance to go to school. My brothers and sisters don't go to school. I can write my name.
I sell biscuits and chips at my home area. I go from one house to another. I stand at the gates, and the people come.
I fetch water at home, and I make sure the garden is watered. I collect water from the trench that comes to the sugar field. We are allowed to use the water.
I collect firewood from the Mdutjane Forest. The trees belong to the prison. We are allowed to take only the dry wood.
I go to bed at six or seven. I wake up around four. I make fire for the water so when the others wake up they can wash. I don't cook. My sister cooks. She makes soft porridge for breakfast. For lunch, we eat porridge, and sometimes rice, with beans and vegetables. We grow cabbage. We have an avocado and a mango tree. We sell the fruits. I go house to house with them.
I have a friend named Bheki. I go to his house. I like to play soccer for the Barcelona Football Club. We just finished the tournament. We were number two.
When I am a man, I want to work. I would like to be a soldier. But I am worried. The army won't take you if you don't finish school.
If I had one million rand, I would go to school. I could buy clothes. I could buy food. I would keep some of the money, so each time my food gets finished I can buy more food.