Chapter Five

Nokuthula sat cross-legged on Dineo’s bed, watching her try on multiple outfits while vigorously chewing a piece of gum.

“Definitely not that one.” Atlegang said when Dineo re-emerged in a peach dress.

“Yeah, that one is so churchy.” Nokuthula said, much to Dineo’s dismay. That had been the sixth outfit that she tried on and she was quickly running out of options.

“I don’t have any more options, guys.” She said, collapsing onto the bed dramatically.

“Why didn’t you just ask S’fiso to take you shopping?” Atlegang asked.

“No…” Dineo pulled a face. She wasn’t going to ask S’fiso for gang money.

“Come on. Just ask him for a lift then, spend your own money.” Nokuthula said.

“What money?” Dineo got up and faced her friends. Going out on a date was starting to seem like far too much trouble. She was beginning to think that it would be far better if they just hung out at home and there was no pressure to dress up. Nokuthula suddenly got up from the bed and reached for her bag.

“Here. Go find a nice outfit.” She said, handing Dineo R300. Both Dineo and Atlegang looked at Nokuthula in shock.

“Haibo, where did you get this money?” Atlegang asked and Nokuthula shrugged.

“I’m not taking this money.” Dineo said, gently pushing Nokuthula’s hand away.

“Oh come on, I didn’t steal it. I’m just trying to be a good friend but if you don’t want my help…” Nokuthula said, putting the money back in her bag.

“Okay. Okay. Thank you, Thuli. I’ll text him right now.” Dineo said, outstretching her hand for Nokuthula to give her the money.

“You don’t have to pay me back.” Nokuthula said, giving Dineo the money with an extra wide smile on her face.

*****

S’fiso walked around the 76 main house with his phone in hand, looking for Menzi. He eventually found his leader smoking a cigarette in the garage.

“Menzi, you’re here.” He said frantically.

“What’s up?” Menzi asked.

“I know we have a meeting tomorrow morning at 9 but I need a favour.” S’fiso said.

“Oh? What is it?”

“Can we move the meeting to 10?”

“Why?” Menzi turned to face S’fiso, who turned pink, causing Menzi to frown.

“You know I’m taking Dineo out tomorrow evening –“ S’fiso started speaking but Menzi interrupted him with a loud sigh.

“Savelelwa Nkosi yam uDineo.” Menzi said. He was starting to regret encouraging S’fiso to ask Dineo out because she had become all he ever spoke about. It was a little annoying.

“Well, she asked me to take her to the mall in the morning so she can find something to wear. I’m just gonna drop her off and come back then I’ll pick her up after the meeting.” S’fiso explained quickly and Menzi rolled his eyes.

“Ai yaz yini, do what you need to do.” Menzi said, walking out of the garage.

****

When she left Dineo’s house, Nokuthula lied about having to get medication for her grandmother. Instead, she walked to zone 1 and hung out at the spaza shop closest to the 88 house. She knew that she would bump into Thabang eventually and she hoped that she wouldn’t have to see much of him anymore. The red Audi turned the corner just Nokuthula was getting up to buy her second packet of chips.

“Hey, get in the car.” Thabang said as he parked the car and Nokuthula obliged. “I hope this isn’t where you spent the 2 grand that I gave you.”

“No. But I do have news.” Nokuthula said.

“Of course, why else would you be here.” Thabang rolled his eyes.

“I used some of that money to set your plan in motion. You didn’t hear it from me but Dineo will be at Eastgate Mall tomorrow morning… alone.” Nokuthula said. She felt bad about setting up her friend but defying Thabang could prove fatal for her.

“How do you know S’fiso won’t be there with her?” Thabang asked.

“The 76 have a meeting tomorrow morning… so he said he’d just drop her off at the mall and then pick her up later.” She said.

Thabang smiled a devious smile. This was music to his ears. He reached for the cubby hole and took out his wallet. He took out a stack and counted it.

“Here. R5000. You’ll get the rest when you finish your job. Well done.” He said and Nokuthula’s smile quickly faded.

“What do you mean? Am I not done?” Nokuthula asked. Thabang shook his head.

“One more thing, my peach. I need you to distract the 76 tomorrow, buy me some time.” Thabang said and Nokuthula nodded reluctantly. She took the money from Thabang and stuffed it into her bag. She hesitated for a moment before getting out of the car.

“Thabang,” she gulped. “What are you going to do to her?”

“Nothing. I just want to scare S’fiso. Dineo will not be harmed, relax.” Thabang said casually and Nokuthula let out a sigh of relief before getting out of the car and walking away. She feared for her own life but she knew she wouldn’t be able to live with herself if Thabang hurt Dineo in any way. It was truly a relief that he wasn’t planning on doing anything to her.

*****

Saturday, 16 October 2004. The ride to the mall was loud and cheerful for Dineo and S’fiso. It wasn’t like the first time – when he took her to buy school pants and they travelled in ominous silence. This time, they listened to music and talked over it and laughed loudly. S’fiso stole every moment he could to look at Dineo lovingly, like she was a precious jewel. He looked at her the same way a poor person would look at a winning lottery ticket. The way a poultry farmer would look at a magical goose that laid golden eggs. She was like a prize to him; something he got but didn’t deserve. S’fiso checked the time when he was done parking. It was just after 9am.

“I’ll be back at 11, okay? So take your time.” He said.

“I don’t think I’ll need two hour to shop. I’ll just take a taxi back.” Dineo said.

“No, no, baby. Shop around until you find an outfit you really love. Here,” he said, reaching for his wallet. “This should help shop around more confidently.” He handed her R500 to add onto the R300 she already had but Dineo didn’t take it.

“No, that’s not necessary. I’ll manage. See you at 11.” She said.

“Be safe.”

“I’m not a baby.” She laughed as she walked away from the car. S’fiso sat for a moment watching her walk into the building before pulling out of the parking lot.

*****

At 09:15 that same morning, the 88s created a three-car convoy headed out of Pimville towards the east. 12 of the 16 members of the 88 were deployed on this mission. The other four were tasked with ensuring that everything was going smoothly in Pimville. Thabang knew that it was risk to leave just four of his men to take on the entire 76 gang, but he also knew that Eastgate Mall was big and he needed the man power to ensure that they didn’t miss Dineo. They had to make sure that they covered all entrances. If they messed it up, they wouldn’t get another chance to execute this mission. Thabang’s Audi was the first to park at around 09:50 and he immediately called Nokuthula.

“Hello?” she said.

“We’re here. It’s got time.”

*****

Kabelo arrived at Nokuthula’s house shortly after she got off the call with Thabang.

“Nokuthula, my child… are you sure about this?” her grandmother asked.

“Gogo, I don’t have a choice. Please just co-operate with Kabelo and he won’t hurt you.” Nokuthula said. Her grandmother let out a loud sigh as she watched Kabelo retrieved a long rope from his school bag.

“Hey wena, why are you still here?” Kabelo said to Nokuthula. She gave her grandmother one last pitiful look before darting out. Her heart was pounding as she walked as fast she could. She checked the time, it was almost 10:15 and she needed to get to zone 2 before S’fiso left. She decided it would be better if she ran. That would also help her seem frantic and onlookers would be able to attest to the fact that she wasn’t okay on her way there. She ran as if her life depended on it. It actually did. If she was too late, if S’fiso got to the mall before Thabang could complete his mission, Thabang would definitely take his frustrations out on her. The thought alone frightened her so much that tears started to form in her eyes.

She barged into the yard of the 76 headquarters and ran towards the door.

“Haibo.” Menzi said when she barged in through the front door, panting and tears running down her face. “What is it?”

“Please… you have to help me… my grandmother…” she took dramatically deep breaths in between her words. Thulani got up and headed to the kitchen. He returned with a glass of water which he handed to Nokuthula. She took the glass in her trembling hands and took a couple of sips.

“It’s the 88… Kabelo is holding my grandmother hostage. I need your help.” She said. This, of course, riled the 76s up. S’fiso immediately got up and disappeared into one of the bedrooms.

“What do they want?” Menzi asked.

“He said something about Thabang wanting to teach you a lesson… he said that he warned you…” Nokuthula said just as S’fiso re-emerged with a big a duffle bag.

“Shit!” Menzi said. “This is you, S’fiso! Dammit man!”

S’fiso didn’t say anything. He just stood in the middle of the room, passing out guns to the gang members. His heart was pounding. He knew that Thabang had said he’d get his revenge. He didn’t think Thabang would pick on an old woman.

“Where do you think you’re going?” Menzi asked him as he was about to leave with the rest of the gang.

“What do you mean?” S’fiso asked. “There’s war.”

“A war that you started. You’re going to stay here with Sticks.” Menzi said.

“And do what?” S’fiso protested.

“You’re going to look after Nokuthula, in case they come looking for her.” Menzi said before turning to the rest of the gang. “One car must go to zone 1, find that bastard in his own home.” He ordered. S’fiso knew better than to argue with Menzi, especially when he was so worked up. He watched the 6 BMWs drive off. His frustration stemmed from many places; first, the fact that he had never been left behind since he started being an active member of the gang and, second, because he wanted to be the one to pump a dozen bullets into Thabang’s head. Like Menzi had said, this was a war that he started and he so desperately wanted to be the one to end it.

*****

Meanwhile, the 88s surrounded the mall like a swarm of bees and Dineo was unknowingly in the centre of it all. She checked the time just as she was done paying. 10:55. She was glad to have been done on time. She was sure she’d spot the BMW in the parking lot.

“Dinny.” A voice came from behind her just as she walked out of the store. She turned around and saw Thabang. Her instincts told her to run as fast as she could but as she turned on her heel, she caught sight of two other members of the 88s coming towards her from different directions.

“I wouldn’t do that.” Thabang said softly as he placed his hand on her shoulder. “I just need you to behave. We’re in a nice place, don’t cause scene. Can you do that for me?” he asked her as he slowly directed her hand towards the gun in his pants. Dineo had never touched a gun in her life. It was so cold and hard, much like Thabang’s heart. She nodded in agreement and Thabang put his arm around her and started walking towards the exit. He took his phone out and made a call while they walked.

“Sho.” Kabelo said.

“We’re done here. Time for phase two.” Thabang said and hung up. He made Dineo sit in the backseat of his Audi, in between two other gang members who both had guns to ensure she didn’t try anything funny.

*****

The 76 gang arrived at Thabang’s house in zone one, guns blazing. Just as Thulani was about to open the gate, about six or seven pitbulls came came charging towards them. Thulani quickly closed the gate before firing shots in frustration. This meant the house was vacant. None of the gang members were home. So Thulani and his crew decided to camp there. The 88s were bound to go home eventually and when they did, they’d find the 76s waiting for them.

*****

When the other four cars full of 76 gang members arrived at Nokuthula’s home, they found nobody but Nokuthula’s grandmother tied up with a piece of duct tape stuck to her mouth. Some of the gang members circulated the yard to see what they could find while the others got busy untying Nokuthula’s grandmother. Kabelo was very good at tying intricate knots. Menzi’s frustration grew exponentially.

*****

S’fiso found it hard to sit still. Nobody was telling him anything. Instead, he was stuck at home with Sticks and Nokuthula. Nokuthula who kept trying to make small talk. Soon, he heard the gate open and darted outside with his gun on hand. His blood boiled when he saw Kabelo standing in the driveway with a cocky smile on his face. S’fiso put his gun against Kabelo’s forehead.

“Poor you. You think Thabang is interested in that old lady? You really think Thabang would hurt an old lady to punish you? The reality is, Thabang is now on his way back from Eastgate Mall.” Kabelo said, still with a smug look on his face. The words ‘Eastgate Mall’ echoed in S’fiso’s head. It took S’fiso a moment to realise what Kabelo was telling him. In the midst of all this chaos, he had forgotten about Dineo. His eyes bulged. S’fiso had only ever showed fear a few times in his life; the first time he held and operated a gun, the first time he was part of a heist and that night when Dineo kissed him. This fear, however, was more consuming than anything he had ever felt before. This fear, unlike the others, was crippling because with the others he had feared the unknown. This time, however, everything that he knew would happen if he got too close to Dineo was happening.

“Why?” he asked, his voice cracking a bit.

“If you call Menzi right now and he agrees to hand over zone 5 to the 88s, I’ll call Thabang and make sure he drops Dineo off safely at home. If not then…” Kabelo shrugged. S’fiso took his phone out of his pocket and started dialling. It rang twice before there was an answer.

“Hello, baby.” Thabang said at the other end of the line. S’fiso’s heart sank even more. He had expected to hear Dineo’s voice at the other end. He was hoping that Kabelo had been bluffing, that Dineo was fine and that she was just waiting for him to pick her up.

“Thabang, leave Dineo out of this.” S’fiso said.

“Just follow Kabelo’s instructions.” Thabang said before hanging up. S’fiso lowered his gun and took a deep breath. Behind him, Nokuthula and Sticks stood silently. Sticks was waiting for instructions, Nokuthula just wanted to watch the drama unfold. It excited her that she had been in the middle of a gang war, that she had been part of the entire orchestration.

S’fiso dialled again.

“Sho.” Menzi said.

“Thabang has Dineo.” S’fiso said.

“What? Where?”

“I’m not sure where they are right now but he says if you can agree to give him zone 5, he’ll bring her back.”

“No.”

“What?”

“We’re not giving Thabang our territory.”

“But Menzi, what if he hurts her? She’s one of us, remember? We have to protect her.”

“I’ll find another way to save Dineo but we are not giving up our territory.”

S’fiso hung up before letting out an angry growl and kicking everything that was in his way. He walked back to the house, pushing past Nokuthula and Sticks. He couldn’t stop shaking. His world was literally falling to pieces and there was nothing that he could do about it.

*****

While the other 88 cars drove to zone 1, Thabang drove to a random house in zone 4. This house was surrounded by shacks. It belonged to a woman who lived alone and had allowed the 88 gang to use one of the shacks for storage. Their agreement was that they would use the shack for whatever they wanted and she wouldn’t interfere. Thabang led Dineo into the shack and made her sit down. He didn’t tie her up or gag her.

“I’m going to leave now. Will you behave?” Thabang asked her and she nodded. “Good, because if you don’t then my friends will deal with you accordingly. I don’t want to hurt you… but don’t test me.” He put his own gun on a nearby crate and headed out of the shack, leaving Dineo there with three armed members of the 88. He drove calmly. He knew that when he arrived at his house, he’d find the 76 ready for war. He didn’t have a gun. All he had was faith. He arrived at the same time as Menzi but his other gang members were already up in arms after finding Thulani and the others already waiting for them. They stood pointing guns at each other. Thabang and Menzi walked towards each other and Menzi didn’t hesitate to pull his gun out.

“It’s this reckless behaviour that landed you in trouble in the first place.” Thabang said, putting his hands in his pockets.

“I’m not giving you a thing. You’re either going to bring Dineo to me or I’m going to shoot you.” Menzi said.

“Go ahead and shoot. But if I die, Dineo dies with me.” Thabang said. He knew that Menzi was capable of shooting him but he had to stick to his guns. Instead, Menzi put his gun away.

“You’re not getting shit.” He said to Thabang. “Gents, let’s go.” He ordered and all the 76s dropped their weapons and got into their cars before driving off. Thabang was enraged. His plan was failing but he couldn’t allow that to happen. He, too, got into his car and drove off.

*****

Nokuthula was becoming more and more uncomfortable being in the 76 house with S’fiso, who looked like he would fire his gun at any given moment. She jumped up when she heard the cars outside and the 76s marched in angrily.

“You, go home.” Menzi barked at her and she ran out. She hoped that the money she was getting from Thabang would be worth all of this trouble.

“S’fiso.” Menzi nudged him and he looked up with bloodshot eyes and throbbing veins. His leg was shaking. He just needed permission to go find Dineo and end Thabang’s life. “Do you see what you have done?”

“Menzi, what if he kills her?” S’fiso said, clenching his jaw.

“He won’t.”

S’fiso wanted to ask how Menzi could have been so sure but he just didn’t have the energy. There hadn’t been that much tension in the 76 house since Themba was killed.

*****

Thabang was annoyed when we walked into the shack. He had expected that Dineo was important enough to S’fiso to make him convince Menzi to give up the territory. But apparently not. Apparently, the stakes were not high enough.

“Get out.” He said to his fellow gang members. “Get out and wait in the car.”

They did as they were told, leaving Thabang alone with Dineo.

“Can I go now?” Dineo asked.

“No. Apparently kidnapping you isn’t enough to shake your boyfriend. Maybe he doesn’t love you.” Thabang said.

“Mxm.”

Dineo sat watching Thabang make a makeshift stand with everything he could find in the messy shack. He then put his phone on it backwards and moved around it.

“What are you doing?” Dineo asked.

“Dineo, you must understand I never wanted to hurt you… but this is the only way that I can punish S’fiso for disrespecting me.” Thabang said after pressing his phone.

“Are you recording?” Dineo asked, starting to feel even more uncomfortable.

“I’m going to take something away from him that he will never get back. And every time he looks at you, he’ll remember not to mess with me.”

Dineo gulped as Thabang walked closer to her, picking up the gun he had put on a crate along the way.

“Take off your clothes.” He said.

“What? No.” Dineo said, fold her arms across her chest. Thabang slowly raised his gun until its mouth was steadily against Dineo’s forehead.

“Take off your clothes.” He repeated more sternly. A lone teardrop slid down Dineo’s left cheek as she slowly lifted her t-shirt over her head.

“Faster!” Thabang snapped, frightening her. Soon, Dineo was completely naked and uncomfortable in a dirty shack. Thabang took off his belt and instructed Dineo to put her hands behind her back before proceeding to tie her hands with his belt.

“Thabang please, you don’t have to do this.” Dineo pleaded, now her face was covered in tears.

“Do you want me to shoot you?” Thabang asked and Dineo quickly shook her head. Thabang grabbed Dineo by the neck and pinned her face-first against the wall.

“If you make a noise, I will shoot you.” He said as he forcefully thrust himself into her. Dineo stifled a scream allowed her face to be flooded by more tears. She couldn’t believe what was happening to her. How would she live with herself after this? She didn’t know what life would be like from then on but she knew that she would never forgive S’fiso.

*****

The morbid silence in the 76 house was broken by a knock on the door. A little boy, about 7 years old, stood at the front door.

“Sho.” Sticks said when he opened the door.

“Thabang said I must give this to you.” The little boy said, handing Sticks a phone, and then he ran out of the yard. Stick returned to the rest of the gang and handed the phone to Menzi. It was already opened to the gallery and there was only one video there.

“Looks like our friend has a message for us.” Menzi said and S’fiso immediately sat up. Menzi opened the video, there was complete silence in the entire yard. S’fiso’s blood started boiling when Thabang made Dineo strip.

“I’m gonna kill him!” he screamed before bolting out of the house. Menzi stopped the video when it was obvious what was going on and he rushed out to find S’fiso, who was furiously punching the wall.

“Calm down.” Menzi said, grabbing hold of his arm. “You’ll hurt yourself.”

“Don’t tell me to calm down! You could’ve saved her! I don’t even where she is…” he broke free of Menzi’s grip before sliding down to the ground with his back against the wall. He put his forehead against his knees and started sobbing bitterly. Menzi didn’t know what to do anymore. He crouched down beside S’fiso and held him in his arms.

“I’ll fix this. I promise, we’ll make Thabang pay.” He said. He didn’t know how but he knew he didn’t want to see S’fiso so distraught. He knew that he had to make it up to him, get him his shot at revenge. It wasn’t about territory anymore. It was about brotherhood.