As part of the MODISA Series capturing legal and illegal immigrants from Lesotho in the South Africa working as herders in the rural Eastern Cape, A week in Pirie captures a Lesotho man who is new to the village of Pirie Mission, I was an unwelcome guest to one the Malusi- Filimoni, an introduction of who I am. I watched as he went about his day, laundry, music, cleaning his shack. I sat in silence, observing, finding little out of the norm to the way of life of the people within the village. An average man, taking care of what’s his, what’s lent to him. I parted ways with Filimoni in the village called “Ndileka” went upwards towards a second man, Ntate Mpho. Mpho had went to town to get a bank card done and fix issues pertaining to his work permit. I introduced myself, “ndingu Mbasa” “ndingu Mpho” “what does your name mean Mbasa” “The same as yours” I said swiftly- in hopes to minimise the language barriers.
He told me he was an apple picker in a plaas (farm) in Cape Town- “thats where I learnt isiXhosa” he boasted. He asked me where I had been before. I told him I met Ntate Filimoni. He locked eyes with my cousin. who is Ntate Filimoni ? I described the man with the sharp soul and a gaze filled with doubt. They laughed. it was then when I realized Filimoni April was in fact not Filimoni April. He revealed his identity to me. I joined the laugh. I understood his doubt. A strange woman feeling entitled to his story, poking around where they shouldn’t. I, too, would become Filimoni.
