Meeting My Sister Gertrude (October 3rd, 1946)

Today, October 3rd, 1946, I went to Clairmont to visit my sister Gertrude Kumalo and check-in on how she is feeling. But the first thing that I notice is that the streets here are shabby and dirty, the houses were close, cramped, and filthy, and most shockingly the amount of children just wandering about the streets. So I asked Msimangu why there were there where so many children on the streets and not at school.  Msimangu replied some of the children don't care (about school), some of the parents of the children don't care (about school), but many (of the children) because the schools are full. I thought "How could such an affluent city, such as Johannesburg not be able to afford paying for more schools for native children?" Then I went inside the house to visit my sister. When I get inside I hear laughter, but not the joyful laughter but the kind of laughter that was because of fear. Then I see that there is great fear in my sister's eyes. After these two instances I could tell that there was something terribly wrong with my sister. Then she reaches out and grabs my hand but when I feel her hand it was cold, wet, and seemingly lifeless. As she touches my hand she tells me that her life has been miserable here in Johannesburg. She tells me how she has been to prison, been a prostitute, and a liquor dealer. I asked her "Than do you wish to come back to Ndosheni?"She says yes, for my child and I are sick here in Johannesburg. Then Gertrude asked me if I know where Absalom is. I said I do not know where Absalom is. I guess I will have to search for him.

This was what the streets looked like where my sister was.