Bring back our son

Tenda and Mpho leave no stone unturned to find their baby.

- ELEANOR MAVIMBELA

Grieving Tenda and Mpho (Nat Ramabulana and Azwi Ram-buda) are doing TV interviews asking for help, exhuming bodies, appealing to the ancestors for direction and even turning on each other in an effort to find their son who was stolen after Mpho gave birth recently. “Mpho is devastated, she is torn apart,” says Azwi. “She had a hard journey and struggled to fall pregnant. She never thought she could have a baby. Now that she had her son and he was taken from her, she will do anything to make sure she gets him back.”

Tenda is feeling guilty and blames himself. “This child is a boy and would make sure that his lineage is carried on,” explains Nat. “He feels guilty that Mpho fell ill because of the decision he forced on her: giving up her ancestral gift. This guilt is playing in his head. He even starts to think about confessing to Mpho about everything he did, like murdering his gambling addict nephew Hulisani (Burnett Gededger) in May in the hopes that it would fix things.” Being remorseful is one thing, finding a missing boy is another.

DESPERATE MEASURES

No one at the hospital can offer help, so Tenda and Mpho grasp at any leads on their missing son. “They are both sinking into depression,” explains Azwi, adding that Mpho and Tenda follow a worrying lead but are relieved when they exhume a baby’s body and it’s not their child. “The lack of answers cause them more distress. It’s like they’ve hit a brick wall,” adds Azwi. Mpho even considers begging her ancestors for a clue. “Mpho takes her chances with her ancestors, hoping that they will forgive her and help her. She asks local sangoma