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| Mpho Adelaid Molefe |
Mpho is a 19 year old and this interview was conducted
during the week of her birthday celebrations. She was born on 27 April and for
this birthday party her mother’s sister organised a surprise party for her. She
was so ecstatic; she was over the moon on how things panned out. However, she
did not get the tablet gift she so wished for. Shame!
Mpho was born in Boksburg and has spent her life growing up
in Zenzele, Daveyton. After her primary schooling she went to Mabuya High where
she is in grade 12 now. Her ambition is to be a travel agent and help people
plan their holidays. “I want to explore the world,” she enthuses. “I take you
places, organise your travelling itineraries, and suggest exotic places for you
to visit and lovely places to see.”
At Mabuya she likes the tourism subject so much that it is
not surprising that her favourite teacher is Ms Mogase, the tourism teacher.
Her other subjects are business management, maths literacy, economics,
Setswana, English and life orientation.
She is in love with her school, she says. “It is the best
school ever. Teachers re perfect; they work hard and want you to listen.” Her
principal, Mr Langa, is a “darling”. “There is no gangsterism at our school,
despite the recent upsurge in gang rivalry in local schools recently. And as
for drugs, well, dagga is so prevalent at our school. Even girls roll a zol or
two. It is as fashionable as is their falls eyelashes and short skirts. They
smoke in the alleys and passages, in the toilets and anywhere where a teacher
is not in sight. In our class there is this cool boy who smokes before school,
during interval and I am sure at two in the morning. He is cool though, that
one.”
Mpho says teenage pregnancy at schools irks her. “It riles
me,” she chokes. She is disappointed with these girls “who are still children
themselves. It is disgusting. They must stay at home, they destroy us. Why do
they indulge in silly sex games? Sex is for adults, let kids play their games
and leave adult matter alone.” She says at her school pregnant teenagers cause
them to fall asleep in class, especially after the break when they have just
eaten. “They must stay at home.”
She praises her mother, Dorothy, for teaching her well when
it comes to boys. “Life at home is amazing,” she points out. ”My mother knows
of my ambitions in life. She encourages me and tells me to pick up my life and
be noteworthy. She pushes me. She has told me about boys and their ways. She
has briefed me about her own life which, sadly, has not endowed her with good
fortune. But, because of her life stories, I know about the pitfalls and how to
get to my desired destiny. That is why, at 19, I am still untouched. A proud
virgin sir.” She has dated only one guy for more than five years, her first
love. “But I have a crush on someone else,” she hushes!
Her role models are two of South Africa's foremost media
personalities; Bonang Matheba and Pearl Modiadie.
“Bonang inspires me. She does things on her own for herself. It is good to make so much money at such a young age.” But Mpho is not impressed. “There are no local role models in Daveyton. There are no sports facilities here, no recreational parks, and no multipurpose centers. Nothing! And, ask me about crime? You smell it in the air, it hangs suspended in space with no shame.”
When she wants to chill with friends Fikile Mkhabela-Khoza and Matshepo Segoale they go to the local Daveyton Golf Course.
She admits coyly that she is shy, but also admits to being crazy at heart. She likes dancing and sings in the church choir.
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