Bruce Mlaba is an Inkatha Freedom Party activist and Nomama Meyiwa a staunch ANC follower – and they are in love. Bruce (21) and Nomama (17) met and fell for each other at school in Mpumalanga, which has been ripped asunder by conflict between the ANC and then IFP. For years they were forced to meet in secret. "Because of the violence, many people fled their homes. With other young boys, I occupied one of the houses. Nomama used to come and see me there secretly," said Bruce. Their fears that their families would force them to break off the affair are understandable – both come from true-blue backgrounds.
Nomama is the granddaughter of former Robben Islander and ANC Natal Midlands regional executive committee member Matthew Meyiwa. Bruce is the son of Sipho Mlaba, local lFP chairman. As violence abated in the township after a peace agreement, Nomama explained, it became easier for her to see Bruce. "I used to go to his house, but he should not come to my place. It was easier for me to go there – he could control the boys in his area," she said. Then, in contrast with Shakespeare's Tragedy the two families were forced together by an unexpected development. After two years of clandestine trysts, Nomama fell pregnant.
Said Bruce: "My father was a little angry – but then he came to accept it and paid 'damages' (to Nomama's family in line with Zulu custom when a child is born out of wedlock). I think he is now proud to be a grandfather." The pregnancy, rather than political differences, put the relationship under strain for the first time. "I did not want to admit that it was my child," said Bruce "I did not see Nomama for six months before I realised that this is my blood and I cannot throw it away." Well-built and jocular, Bruce makes a sharp contrast with Nomama: she is shy and reluctant to speak of their relationship. She is still at school and hopes to become a nurse; he helps his father in his supermarket in the township.
Sometimes, on weekends, the couple travel to Durban for a night out. "We go to Genesis (a popular night club). Nomama likes to dance," said Bruce. Fearing repercussions and obedient to Zulu custom, the couple refused to allow their photograph to be taken. "After I put the ring on Nomama's finger you can take our photo. If you do it before that, it could weaken our relationship – we believe that in our culture," said Bruce. Now the couple visit each other freely, walking several kilometres into ANC and IFP strongholds. "No one troubles us. And we are not the only ones to do this; there are other couples who are just like us," said Bruce. They still quarrel about politics, but this is not enough to drive them apart. “She tries to convince me and I try to convince her, but we both stick to our positions. The arguments sometimes get very heated and we say: 'It's useless to continue. Let's talk about the baby or our families'," said Bruce.
Nomama said she would vote for the ANC, despite mounting violence in Natal and lFP calls for an election boycott. "Mandela fought for our release. He spent 27 years in Jail," she said. Bruce is resigned to this. "I cannot stop her, but I believe the ANC wants to destroy the Zulu kingdom. I say that they must leave the people of Natal – black and white alone. We will rule ourselves." Bruce is longing for the day when the two are married and living together. "Nomama and the baby will be with me. We’ll be in the same house. Nothing will be able to separate us then not even violence. I will protect them," he said. He has a message for lFP leader chief Mangosuthu Buthelezi and ANC leader Nelson Mandela: “Copy us. Rule the country together. You were once friends. Rebuild that friendship. We have done it in Mpumalanga."
This article originally appeared in the Weekly Mail.