Part of the legacy of forced removals is that fragments of the cultural landscape,
once vital to the way people lived, have begun to fade.
In an effort to recall a few memories, Park Authority staff joined a recent
search for the crossing point made by a group from the Bhangazi Trust.
Drought conditions persist in the Park and water levels in the lakes have
declined steadily over the summer. Concern over the implications of this situation,
for both humans and wildlife, are well founded.
It should borne in mind, though, that this dry spell is part of a longer cycle
forming part of the wetland system ecology. It is also part of the memories
held by communities that used to live on the Eastern Shores of Lake St Lucia
and the scarcity of water offered an opportunity for reminiscence by some
older residents.
Narrow point
Ndlela eya eMafutha, also known as Brodie’s Crossing, is the narrowest
portion of the lake and has historically been used during dry periods by both
people and animals to cross from the Eastern Shores to the point at Makakatana.
Before the removal of imizi (homesteads) from the area in the 1960s and 1970s,
the shortcut directly across the shallows saved much time in the journey to
isitolo saMafutha, the Morrison trading store.
The trail began on wide grasslands dotted all over with small pans, Spurwing
geese standing about the edges while the water-held rafts of sky-blue amazibu
water-lilies. Elderly guides directed the journey from the rear through former
grazing lands.
With broad gestures they indicated which route the younger contingent should
take while offering the occasional grumble about having to walk so far.
Eventually the party approached the trees skirting the lake and the search
for the crossing began in earnest.
Changes
Kethazile Mbuyazi found the area conspicuously changed.
Recent growth of trees obscured the old passages, making it impossible to
discern exactly where she was. She remained keen to keep up the exploration
and as elements of remembrance trickled back she commented, `when I see where
I used to live, I want to cry’.
Complaints about weariness were replaced with spirited debate as the old-timers
argued over the best approach to the passage across the sandbanks. Ultimately
the disputes remained unresolved as impenetrable reed-beds prevented access
to the exposed floor of the lake.
Though recollections included the unshakable belief that wild animals were
less aggressive when families still lived among them, no-one was willing to
risk running into a crocodile or hippo in the thick vegetation since they
have become `badly behaved’.
Lessons
Being on the Eastern Shores prompted Mphakama Mhlanga to recall aspects of
livelihood now vanished.
Her memories were that picking fruit from trees and gathering edible plants
not only kept families well fed, it saved them money too.
So while the actual crossing proved elusive, lessons were still learned.
The remembrance of cultural practice is still important to the people who
used to live with their cattle and crops on the Eastern Shores.
Time can erode these memories and soon they may be the stuff of which legends
are woven.