Nations's Bounty. Nontsizi Mgqwetho

      Mgqwetho defends Marshall Maxeke’s editorship of Umteteli wa Bantu against the charge that it splits the South African Native National Congress. The conduct of some of the Congress leaders, she claims in response, has itself brought about internal dissension.

       3 [The split within Congress]

      Listen! You’ll hear

      of the split within Congress,

      graver than any

      Rev. Maxeke, B.A. might have caused.

      1Hawulele! Hule! 5

      Nontsizi foresaw it.

      Tramps’ ancestors

      are no match for mine.

      2Tired of snipping,

      we came out of our holes: 10

      you might as well lie

      as snip at an issue.

      3Maxeke’s split?

      Neighbour, you’re blind

      to internal dissension 15

      in National Congress.

      4Today we’re a team:

      you’ve done a good job,

      exposing the filth

      before I could reach you. 20

      5Stoke up the fire,

      President Makgatho!

      Watch the sparks

      swirl up today.

      Hule! Bo! 25

      6The ancient of days

      says the nation is stunned:

      National Congress is chomped

      like corn on the cob.

3 [Uqekeko lwe Congress]

      Pulapulani! Nizakuva!

      Uqekeko lwe South African

      Native National Congress,

      Ingelulo oluka Rev. Maxeke B.A.,

      1Hawulele! Hule! 5

      Ndanditshilo mna Nontsizi,

      Iminyanya yakowetu

      Ayibambani neye Xelegu.

      2Siyapuma egusheni.

      Sidiniwe kuncwela 10

      Ukuba Siyancwela

      Ingab’asinanyani.

      3Uqekeko luka Maxeke?

      Walulibala ke nawe

      Mfondini wakowetu 15

      Olwe National Congress.

      4Namhla Sigagene

      Tyapile wenjenje

      Utyile amanyala

      De ndakufumana. 20

      5Kaukwezele!

      Nto ka Makgatho (President)

      Nandzo intlantsi

      Namhlanje ziq’uq’umba

      Hule! Bo.’ 25

      6Uti u Xego-Dala

      Isizwe simangele

      Kuba i National Congress

      Seyidliw’amaq’ashu.

      7Our people are spent, 30

      urged over the edge.

      I’d carve the meat

      for a guide to a ford.

      8Halala! As we said:

      National Congress, 35

      envious watchers

      would grind you to dust.

      9Please consider

      your internal split:

      your bloated body 40

      comes as a shock.

      10Cape Native Congress

      and Bantu Union!

      The ford’s struck by lightning:

      our future’s cloudy! 45

      11Which one of the two

      appeals to the people,

      raises their hopes

      of Africa’s return?

      12Maxeke, B.A., 50

      says Africa’s scuppered

      when Cape Town and Jeppe

      urge us over the edge.

      13The ancient of days

      calls out at the ford: 55

      he’ll stand toe to toe

      with both liars today.

      14Without leave from Congress

      they urge us over the edge,

      they preach their sermons 60

      and grab the headlines.

      15And as a result

      Natal Congress walked out,

      and the Free State walked out,

      and the Cape’s splinters splinter. 65

      7Abantu bayapela 30

      Kukufunzwa eweni

      Ndindim ngendimlumela

      Nowalat’izibuko.

      8Ha-la-la! Sasitshilo

      National Congress 35

      Boze bona bakubone

      Oc’ul’ukunyatela.

      9Kaukangele ke

      Uqekeko lwako

      Kwanokummangalisa 40

      Kokutyatyambileyo,

      10Yi Cape Native Congress!

      Bantu Union!

      Zulu osebenzela ekaya!

      Ne Zibuko esingazi ngomso. 45

      11Yiyipina ke kuzo

      Eginyisa amate

      Nenika abantu itemba

      Lokubuyiswa kwe Afrika?

      12Uti oka Maxeke B.A., 50

      Yatshona i Afrika

      Ngo Funz’eweni base Kapa

      Kunye nabase Jeppe.

      13Uti u Xego-Dala