Ukukhonza Kanye Nenhlangano Ethuthuka Ukudlula Zonke

NJENGOBA ILANDISWA UROBERT HATZFELD

Namuhla abantu abaningi sebeyivula belaphaya kude ithelevishini ukuze babuke izindaba zakusihlwa ngezithombe ezinombala, kungekho nokuncane okungavamile abakubonayo kulokho. Kodwa, sengathi kuyizolo nje lapho kade ngingumfanyana oneminyaka engu-12 owayehlahle amehlo ebukele odongeni lwasebhayisikobho umfanekiso womuntu omkhulu kunokuvamile, futhi wayekhuluma!

UNGASE ucabange ukuthi akuyona into ebaluleke kangako. Kodwa kimi kwakunjengesimangaliso sesimanjemanje emuva ngo-1915, ngezinsuku zokufufusa kwezithombe ezingakhulumi ezingenambala. Kwavela indoda ehloniphekile enentshebe odongeni yathi: “I-Photo-Drama of Creation yethulwa i-I.B.S.A., i-International Bible Students Association.” Emahoreni amabili alandela, indaba yeBhayibheli yembuleka phambi kwamehlo ethu. Isigijimi sayo esingokomBhalo sasisobala futhi siqabula. Kodwa, yizithombe ezinyakazayo, ezazihambe ziba nama-slide anombala, namazwi ahambisana nazo okwakungidonsa ngempela.

Angikuqaphelanga ngalesosikhathi, kodwa ugqozi lwami lobusha ngalobobuchwepheshe obuyingqopha-mlando lwaba isiqalo somsebenzi wokuphila kwami konke enhlanganweni ethuthuka ukudlula zonke emhlabeni.

Izinsuku Zokukhula

Ngo-1891 ubaba wayevela eDillenburg, eJalimane, wafikela emphakathini wamaJalimane e-Allegheny, ePennsylvania, e-U.S.A. Kamuva wahlangana nentombazane komunye umkhaya wamaJalimane lapho, base beshada. Ngazalwa ngo-July 7, 1903, futhi ngakhula ngikhuluma isiJalimane nesiNgisi. Ngaphambi nje kokuqala kweMpi Yezwe I ngo-1914, umqedazwe wesifo sofuba wabahlwitha bobabili abazali bami ngasala ngiyintandane. Umkhulu washaywa isifo sohlangothi washona cishe ngesikhathi esifanayo.

Ubabekazi, uMinna Boemer, wangithatha ngayohlala kwakhe. “Nginezingane ezinhlanu,” esho. “Ngisengaba nenye futhi.” Nakuba ngangibakhumbula abazali bami, uBabekazi uMinna wangiphatha kahle.

Ubabekazi wayesenesikhathi eside eyilungu leBandla Lase-Allegheny LabaFundi BeBhayibheli (njengoba oFakazi BakaJehova babebizwa kanjalo ngalezozinsuku). Ngaphambi kuka-1909, uMfoweth’ uC. T. Russell, owayengumongameli we-Watch Tower Society ngalesosikhathi, naye wayehlanganyela kulelobandla. Ubabekazi uMinna wayeya nami emihlanganweni. Nakuba umkhaya wakithi wawungenzi mzamo obumbene wokutadisha noma wokushumayela emuva ngalesosikhathi, noma yini esasiyizwa emihlanganweni, sasiyihlanganyela ngokwethukela nabantu esibaziyo.

Kungalesisikhathi lapho i-“Photo-Drama” yangimangaza khona. Njengoba ngangithambekele ekubeni umakhenikha, ubuchwepheshe obusha bezithombe nokuhlanganiswa kwezithombe ezinyakazayo nenkulumo kwangihlaba umxhwele, njengezithombe zonyawo lonwabu. Ukubukela ukuvuleka kwezimbali kulezozithombe kwakujabulisa!

Ngo-1916 sadabuka lapho uMfoweth’ uRussell eshona. Njengoba sasihlala khona kanye e-Allegheny, saya emngcwabeni wakhe eCarnegie Hall. Yilelihholo uMfoweth’ uRussell aba khona nenkulumo-mpikiswano no-E. L. Eaton ngo-1903. Ngangizizwile izindaba zalomfundisi waseMethodist Episcopal owayecele inselele kuC. T. Russell ngenkulumo-mpikiswano yezinsuku eziyisithupha, enethemba lokululaza ulwazi lweBhayibheli lukaMfoweth’ uRussell. Kuthiwa esikhundleni salokho uRussell ‘wasithela ngamanzi isihogo.’ USara Kaelin, owayeyi-colporteur elaziwayo ePittsburgh, wayebazi ubuso nobuso abakwaRussell. Emngcwabeni wabona uMaria Russell ebeka izimbali ebhokisini nepheshana elalithi, “Kumyeni Wami Othandekayo.” Nakuba ayehlukene naye eminyakeni ethile ngaphambili, uMaria wayesambheka njengomyeni wakhe.

Njengoba iminyaka iqhubeka, ngaba namathuba amaningi okuthola amakhono obuchwepheshe ayedingeka emsebenzini wami wesikhathi esizayo. Umalume owayengumbheki wami wayenenkontileka yokwakha. Phakathi namaholide esikole, wangisebenzisa nabalungisi bakagesi, sishintsha izindlu ezindala ezisebenzisa i-gas sizifakela ugesi. Ngo-1918 abafundi esikoleni sethu bakha izinto zomsakazo nezocingo ezingakhokhelwa. Sasihlangana kusihlwa ukuze sizofunda futhi sihlole ukusebenza kukagesi nozibuthe. Ngo-1926 mina nomngane wami sanquma ukufeza amaphupho ethu esasikade sinawo kusukela ebuntwaneni—ukusebenza emikhunjini sihambe amazwe. Sabhalisa esikoleni sase-Radio Corporation of America sibhalisela ukusebenzisa imisakazo nocingo.

Ukuphila Okusha EBethel

Isikole semisakazo esaya kuso sasiseNew York City, ngakho ngangiwela umfula ngiye eBrooklyn emihlanganweni yabaFundi BeBhayibheli, eyayiba sehholo eliqashiwe laseMasonic Temple endala. Emuva ngalezozikhathi, kwakunebandla elilodwa vó kulo lonke idolobhakazi laseNew York. Lapho abazalwane abavela eBethel (ikhaya lomkhaya wasendlunkulu yabaFundi BeBhayibheli) bezwa ukuthi ngangifundela ukuthola imvume yokusakaza, bathi: “Ufunelani ukuyosebenza olwandle? Thina sinesiteshi somsakazo khona lapha futhi sidinga ozosebenza kuso.” Bangimema ukuba ngize ehhovisi sizoxoxa ngomsebenzi. Ngangingazi lutho ngeBethel ngaphandle kokuthi nje iyindlunkulu yabaFundi BeBhayibheli.

Abazalwane baxoxa nami base betusa ukuba ngiqedele izifundo zami, ngithole leyomvume, bese ngiza eBethel. Ngemva kokuphothula, esikhundleni sokugibela umkhumbi obheke olwandle olugubha amagagasi, ngaqoqa izingutshana zami ezimbalwa ngabamba isitimela esihamba emathunjini omhlaba ngalibangisa eBethel. Nakuba ngangizinikezele kuJehova futhi sengihlanganyele emsebenzini wokushumayela iminyaka eminingi, ngangingakabhapathizwa kwaze kwaba ngo-December 1926, emasontweni amabili ngemva kokuba ngifikile eBethel. Kwakungeyona into engavamile leyo ngalezozikhathi.

IBethel yayigcwele kakhulu ngalezozinsuku, njengoba yayinamalungu angu-150. Ikamelo ngalinye lalinabantu abane. Ngasheshe ngabajwayela bonke, ngoba sonke sasidla, sisebenze, futhi silale esakhiweni esifanayo, futhi njengokulindelekile, sonke sasiya ebandleni elilodwa eNew York City. IKhaya elisha laseBethel laqedwa ukwakhiwa ngo-1927 ku-124 Columbia Heights, futhi sakwazi ukuhlala ngababili ekamelweni.

Ngaye futhi u-1927 kwavulwa ifekthri entsha ku-117 Adams Street. Ngasiza ekuthutheni imishini isuka efekthri endala ku-55 Concord Street. Ngaphandle kwezinto zokusakaza, efekthri kwakukhona amakheshe, imishini yokunyathelisa, imishini yaselondolo, obhayela abasebenza ngowoyela—noma yini nje enezintambo zikagesi, yayisetshenzwa yimina.

Nokho, iBethel yayingaphezu kokuba ifekthri nje. Incwadi ngayinye, ipheshana ngalinye, umagazini ngamunye, kwakudlule ezandleni zesixuku sezikhonzi ezithobekile, ezikhuthele. Zazingezanga ukuzothola udumo lwezwe. Kunalokho, zazifuna nje ukufeza umsebenzi weNkosi—futhi wawumningi ngempela!

Ukujwayelana NoMfoweth’ URutherford

Ngazuza kakhulu elungelweni lokusebenza noJoseph F. Rutherford, umongameli wesibili weNhlangano. Wayeyindoda eqatha, engaphezu kwamamitha angu-1,83 ubude, engakhuluphele, kodwa eyisidlakela. Iningi labazalwane abasebasha eBethel ngokwesilinganiso esithile babemesaba kuze kube yilapho sebemjwayele. Wayehlala etadisha, elungiselela okulotshwayo.

UMfoweth’ uRutherford wayenamahlaya. Kwakunodade ababili abase bekhulile emkhayeni waseBethel ababekade bekhona kusekhona uMfoweth’ uRussell. Babengahlekahleki nje futhi bekholelwa ukuthi akufanele uhleke kakhulu ngisho noma into isihlekisa kangakanani. Ngezinye izikhathi uma kudliwa uMfoweth’ uRutherford wayeke athinte ihlaya elizoqeda wonke umuntu ngensini, okuyinto eyayibacasula labodade ababili. Nokho wayehola futhi nasezingxoxweni zeBhayibheli ezingathi sína ngesikhathi sokudla.

UMfoweth’ uRutherford wayenesandla ezimbizeni futhi ekuthanda ukuphekela abangane bakhe ukudla. Ngesinye isikhathi abapheki baseBethel baphula amathambo ezinkukhu ngesikhathi beziqoba. Wasukuma waqonda ekhishini wayobabonisa indlela eqondile yokuqoba inkukhu. Wayengeke athi edla abe ehlatshwa amathambo!

Ngangivame ukuba seduze kukaMfoweth’ uRutherford ngaphansi kwezimo ezivamile, njengasesiteshini sethu somsakazo, i-WBBR, noma ekamelweni lakhe lokutadisha eStaten Island. Wayeyindoda enomusa kakhulu futhi ekwenza lokho akushoyo. Wayengalindeli ukuba abanye benze lokho naye angenakukwenza. Ngokungafani nabanye abanemithwalo yemfanelo ezinhlanganweni eziningi zenkolo, uMfoweth’ uRutherford wayenesimo esiphakeme kakhulu esingokomoya nesokuziphatha. Wayephilela uMbuso kaJehova ngokusobala.

Izikhathi Ezinzima Ezingokomnotho

Eminyakeni embalwa ngemva kokuba ngifike eBethel, izwe langena enkathini yoKuwa Okukhulu Kwezomnotho. Izimakethe zezimali zawa, ngokufanayo nentengo yezinto. Imisebenzi yayintuleka, nezimali zilinganiselwe. IBethel yayiqhutshwa izimali zeminikelo, futhi uJehova wayehlala eqikelela ukuthi kuneyanele yokunakekela umsebenzi. Sasingakusweli ukudla, nakuba-ke kwakungabi njengoba umuntu ayengathanda. Sasonga ngangokunokwenzeka, futhi abazalwane bangaphandle kwaseBethel babesisiza ngangokusemandleni abo.

Ngo-1932, uMfoweth’ uRobert Martin, umbonisi othembekile wefekthri yethu, washona. UNathan Knorr oneminyaka engu-27 wamiswa esikhundleni sakhe. Wayeyinsizwa enekhono kakhulu. Angikhumbuli noyedwa owaba nobunzima ekumamukeleni njengombonisi wefekthri. Abanye abazalwane abathembekile, phakathi kwabo kunoJohn Kurzen, uGeorge Kelly, uDoug Galbraith, uRalph Leffler, no-Ed Becker—bonke ababeyizisebenzi ezithandekayo engangikanye nazo—banikela ngokuzithandela ngamakhono nobuchule babo enkonzweni yoMbuso.—Qhathanisa no-Eksodusi 35:34, 35.

Ukusebenza Ngomsakazo

Inhlanganno yethu yayizinikele ngakho konke ekusakazeni izindaba ezinhle nganoma iyiphi indlela ekhona. Lonke izwe kwakudingeka lazi ngoMbuso, kodwa thina sasiyizinkulungwane ezimbalwa nje. Ubuchwepheshe bomsakazo babusafufusa ngemva kweMpi Yezwe I. Nokho, abazalwane abanokuqonda baba nomuzwa wokuthi lendlela yokuxhumana yiyona uJehova ayeyilungiselele ngalesosikhathi. Ngakho ngo-1923 baqala ukwakha isiteshi somsakazo i-WBBR eStaten Island, engomunye womasipala abahlanu baseNew York City.

Ngezinye izikhathi kwakuba yimina ngedwa osebenza esiteshini sethu. Ngangihlala khona eStaten Island kodwa ngangithatha uhambo lwamahora amathathu ngesikebhe nangesitimela ngiye efekthri eBrooklyn ngiyokwenza umsebenzi kagesi noma wokukhenikha. Ukuze isiteshi sethu sizisebenzele ngokwaso ngokwanele, safaka injini ye-diesel ephehla ugesi. EStaten Island sasineyethu imithombo yamanzi nengadi eyayondla izisebenzi ezimbalwa ezazilapho, kuhlanganise nomkhaya waseBethel eBrooklyn.

Ngaphambi kokuba kufike usizo olwengeziwe kamuva, imithwalo yemfanelo yomsebenzi womsakazo yakunciphisa kakhulu ukuba khona kwami emihlanganweni nasenkonzweni yasensimini. Sasingekho nhlobo isikhathi sokubungazana nabanye noma ukuthatha uhambo lwangempelasonto ngaphandle kwesikhathi sethu sokuphumula saminyaka yonke. Ukhona owake wangibuza: “Njengoba naninesimiso esibizela kangako, awuzange yini ucabange ukushiya eBethel?” Ngokwethembeka, kwadingeka ngithi “Cha.” Kuye kwaba ilungelo nenjabulo ukuhlala futhi ngisebenze nabazalwane nodade abazinikezele abaningi kangaka. Futhi wawuhlala ukhona umsebenzi okudingeka wenziwe, isabelo esisha okumelwe sifezwe.

Sasiqopha futhi sisakaze imidlalo yomsakazo evusa amadlingozi. Njengoba sasingenayo imisindo ekhethekile eqoshiwe, kwakudingeka sizisungulele ezethu izindlela. Senza umshini owawukwazi ukwenza umsindo womoya opholile noma owesiphepho esinamandla. Umsindo wamagobolondo kakhukhunathi asikwe phakathi ashaywa epulangweni elinendwangu wawuba izinyawo zamahhashi emigwaqweni enamatshe. Umdlalo ngamunye wawuba isenzakalo esimangalisayo. Nabantu babelalela. Ngalezozinsuku zincane izinto ezaziphazamisa, abantu abaningi babehlala balalelisise.

Ngawo-1920 nasekuqaleni kwawo-1930, iNhlangano yaqopha umlando kwezokusakaza, ngokuphindaphindiwe ixhuma inani elikhulu leziteshi ohlelweni olulodwa. Ngaleyondlela izindaba zoMbuso zafinyelela izigidi emhlabeni wonke.

Igilamafoni

Phakathi nawo-1930 nawo-1940, sasungula futhi sakha ama-“transcription machine,” amagilamafoni, neminye imishini yezwi. Ngomshini wokubaza izinsimbi okhethekile, sasisika amarekhodi okwakuzoqoshwa ngawo amanye eziyingini ezibushelelezi. Khona-ke lelorekhodi sasilihlolisisa ngaphansi kwesibonakhulu ukuze siqiniseke ukuthi alinaphutha. Uma linamaphutha, kwakudingeka lenqubo iphindwe futhi kusikwe nangomshini wokubaza izinsimbi. Ngemva kwalokho sasithumela lelirekhodi okuzoqoshwa ngalo enkampanini yamarekhodi, eyayikhiqiza amarekhodi ama-transcription machine nawamagilamafoni.

Esinye isenzakalo esivusa amadlingozi engisikhumbula kahle kwakuyinkulumo kaMfowethu’ uRutherford ngo-1933 eyayinesihloko esithi “Ithonya Lonyaka Ongcwele Ekuthuleni Nentuthuko.” Upapa wayekade ebizé lowonyaka ngokuthi “unyaka ongcwele,” futhi thina ngomsakazo kanye namagilamafoni, lokho sakwembula sabonisa nokuthi kwakungekho lutho olungcwele ngalowonyaka. Njengamagama enkehli, uHitler wathatha umbuso ngalowonyaka esekelwa iSonto LamaKatolika, ngakho noma imaphi amathemba okuthula anyamalala.

E-United States, inhlangano yoMzabalazo WamaKatolika yaqanjwa ukuze ifeze lokho okwakufunwa isonto. Lafaka awalo amadoda ezikhundleni zemikhandlu yabahleli bamaphephandaba ayinhloko, omagazini, nabanyathelisi bezincwadi. Lagxamalaza kwezombangazwe lasongela ngokuduba noma isiphi isiteshi somsakazo esisakaza izinkulumo zethu zeBhayibheli. OFakazi abaningi bahlaselwa amaqembu oMzabalazo WamaKatolika, ikakhulukazi eNew Jersey eseduze. Kwakuyizinsuku ezithakazelisayo lezo!

Umsebenzi Ojabulisayo Ensimini

Maphakathi nawo-1950, amanani andayo abamemezeli boMbuso ayefinyelela abantu abengeziwe khona kanye eminyango yamakhaya abo. Lokhu kwabonakala kuphumelela kakhulu ukudlula umsakazo ekusizeni abantu ngabanye baqonde iqiniso leBhayibheli. Ngakho ngo-1957 kwanqunywa ukuba i-WBBR ithengiswe bese siyisa inzuzo yethu emsebenzini owandayo wezithunywa zevangeli kwamanye amazwe.

Ngo-1955, ngabelwa eBandleni laseBedford eBrooklyn, lapho ngangiqhuba khona iSifundo Se-Nqabayokulinda njalo. INhlangano yabuye yangithuma njengesikhulumi esijikelezayo ngaya enyakatho New York, ePennsylvania, eConnecticut, naseNew Jersey. Ngesikhathi ngabelwa eBandleni LaseBedford, ngazitshela ukuthi ‘Sengineminyaka engu-50 ubudala. Kungcono ngihlanganyele ngamandla ami onke enkonzweni yasensimini kwamanje. Ngokuhamba kwesikhathi ngingase ngiphathwe iqolo ngingabe ngisakwazi ukuyijabulela kangako.’

Ngemva kokusebenza yonke leyaminyaka engxenyeni yobuchwepheshe yokusakaza imbewu yoMbuso ngomsakazo, ngakuthola kuyinjabulo yangempela ukuhlwanyela nokunisela imbewu yeqiniso leBhayibheli ngokuqondile kubantu ngabanye. Ngangikujabulela ngempela ukusebenza nebandla. Abantu abahlukahlukene babengithatha njengelungu lemikhaya yabo, bengenza ngizizwe ngikhululeke ngempela. Ezinye zezingane ezincane, manje esezikhulile, namanje zisangibiza ngomkhulu. Iminyaka engu-30 sibé nezikhathi ezimnandi sindawonye enkonzweni yasensimini, kwaze kwaba yilapho izinkinga emilenzeni yami nasezingalweni zami zingenza ngingakwazi ukwenyuka izitebhisi noma ukuhamba ngesitimela esihamba ngaphansi komhlaba. Ngo-1985, ngashintshela eBandleni LaseBrooklyn Heights, elihlangana khona kanye eBethel.

Njengoba inhlangano kaJehova ijabulela ukwanda okukhulu, ngaba nelungelo lokubona isibusiso sakhe emasimini akwamanye amazwe njengoba ngangiya emihlanganweni yoFakazi BakaJehova emazweni akude. Ngagcina sengiwahambile amazwe okungenani! Kusukela ngawo-1950, abanye bethu eBethel bakwazi ukubona izindawo ezinhle zaseLondon, eParis, eRome, eNuremberg, naseCopenhagen. Sasihamba ngezindiza ezazikade zingezempi ezase zithwala abantu, umkhumbi, nesitimela. Loluhambo lwalwenza umuntu abone izindawo ngempela, kodwa umbukwane ojabulisa ukuyedlula yonke kwakuba izixuku zabafowethu abafudumele, abasemukelayo. Amashumi eminyaka alandela eza nohambo lokuya eMpumalanga, eNtshonalanga Yurophu futhi, muva nje naseMpumalanga Yurophu. Imihlangano emikhulu emangalisayo ePoland, eJalimane, naseCzechoslovakia yayivusa amadlingozi. Yeka indlela umkhaya wethu ongokwasezulwini osewande ngayo selokhu ngaba ingxenye yawo!

Isiqondiso Saphezulu

Lokho okwakubonakala kuwukucathula kwenhlangano kamuva kwaba amagxathu amakhulu. Lapho sithuthukisa okuthile, kungamathuluzi nje kuphela asisizayo ukuba senze umsebenzi wokufakaza, ngubani owayazi ngalokukhula okukhulu kangaka? Siye sathuthuka ngokholo, sisabela ekuholeni kukaJehova.

Lenhlangano ethuthukayo ayizange yesabe ukusebenzisa ubuchwepheshe bamuva obutholakayo noma yakhe obayo ukuze buyisize ekunakekeleni insimu yomhlaba wonke. Phakathi kwezindlela ezisetshenziswayo ekuthuthukiseni ukumenyezelwa koMbuso kuye kwaba ukushumayela endlini ngendlu, ukusetshenziswa kochungechunge lweziteshi zomsakazo, ukufakaza ngamagilamafoni, nesimiso sokuqhuba izifundo zeBhayibheli emakhaya abantu. Ukumisa ezethu izindawo zokunyathelisa ezinsukwini zokuqala nokusetshenziswa kwamanje kokunyathelisa nge-phototypesetting ne-offset ngezilimi eziningi okuqondiswa i-computer akuyona into encane. I-Watchtower Bible School of Gilead, iSikole SeNkonzo EsingokwaseZulwini, nemihlangano eba khona njalo konke kuye kwaba nengxenye okuyifezayo ekuletheni udumo kuJehova uNkulunkulu neNdodana yakhe. Kuye kwaba ilungelo kimi ukuzibonela mathupha nokuhlanganyela kuzo zonke lezizenzakalo.

Kusobala kimi ukuthi inhlangano kaJehova eqondiswa umoya emhlabeni ithola ukuqondiswa ngalokho okumelwe ikwenze nokuthi kumelwe ikwenze kanjani. Yonke inhlangano yakhe yendawo yonke, ebonakalayo nengabonakali, isebenza ngobunye.

Angikaze ngizisole ngokudela imigomo yami yokuhamba olwandle ngesikhathi ngiseyinsizwa. Ingani zonke izinto ezijabulisa ukudlula zonke nezinjongo zenzeka khona kanye lapha phakathi enhlanganweni kaJehova! Ngakho loluhambo lwendlela eya ‘ekubizweni kwaphezulu’ luye lwaphawuleka ngenjabulo enkulu kakhulu nezibusiso futhi angizisolanga nakancane.—Filipi 3:13, 14.

Ngihlala ngitshela abantu abasha ukuthi bakhumbule u-1914—okusho ukuthi, iHubo 19:14, elithi: “Amazwi omlomo wami nokuzindla kwenhliziyo yami makuthandeke ebusweni bakho, Jehova dwala lami nomhlengi wami.” Sifuna ukujabulisa uJehova ngakho konke futhi sithandaze njengoDavide: “Ngazise imendo yakho, Jehova; ngifundise izindlela zakho. Ngihambise eqinisweni lakho, ungifundise ngokuba wena unguNkulunkulu wensindiso yami; ngilindela wena usuku lonke.” (IHubo 25:4, 5) Lamazwi asho okukhulu. Ukuwakhumbula kungasigcina sisemkhondweni oqondile, sibheke endaweni eqondile, sihambisana nenhlangano kaJehova ethuthukayo.

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UMfoweth’ uRutherford wayekujabulela ukuphekela abangane ukudla

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URobert Hatzfeld esezinkinobhweni esiteshini somsakazo i-WBBR

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Isithombe samuva sikaMfoweth’ uHatzfeld