Norma Stevenson shares her tale of African unity

Norma Stevenson, 97-year-old Ons Huis resident, shares her thoughts on growing up in our beautiful country. Norma writes:

I was about 10 years old living in Queenstown in the Eastern Cape and my mother had a helper by the name of Annie. One day I asked Annie, “How old are you?” and “I don’t know,” was her reply. “When is your birthday?” I asked, and “I don’t know,” was again her reply. So I said to my mother, “From today I give you one month from this date to prepare a birthday party for Annie”.

A month later, when I got home from school there was a table decorated for a birthday party. Annie, mother and I sat around the table with ginger beer, cakes and sweets, and where Annie sat, all wrapped up beautifully. I always remember Annie’s birthday party even at the age of 97. My father was called the ‘white farmer’, helping whenever they came to him. My grandparents on both sides were good to their helpers.

My parents were not rich but comfortable. My father was the breadwinner as mothers did not work. These are some of the memories of years gone by. When I was naughty my mother was going to punish me so I used to run to Amelia, who was a helper later, and she would wrap me in her long skirt. My mother had no chance. During the years when our helpers went on holiday, mother would pack a huge cardboard box full of groceries for them to take home.

When I was in my 20s living in East London I was given a name by the old grey-haired man from the Xhosa people in the Eastern Cape. The name was Nobantu, and I said to the grey-haired man, “No, that is too good for me,” and he said, “Nobantu it shall be”. So I tried my best to live up to that name. When I knew of someone in hospital, I would send them cool drink and something to eat.

Today the younger generation call me Nobantu here in Gauteng. I have been reading in the newspaper and seeing on television about all the racism in this world. The word of God says, ‘Love one another and if you don’t love one another then you don’t love Me’. Jesus shed his blood on the cross for everybody, no matter what race or colour. I am the servant of the Lord. If you want to be happy, abide by His word. To God be the glory.