MANGALISO BUZANI

My grandmother fell inside the bathroom and hurt her ribs. After that she abandoned speaking, because when she spoke a pain like a broken bone stabbed her. That’s why she chose to use sign language. We phoned the ambulance, lucky it was near, it arrived in no time.

ISABELLA MOTADINYANE

with a handful of names
enough to destroy a government
saw an old man sitting on the rim of his chair
taking off his jacket
giving it to the young
walking on ice

DIMAKATSO SEDITE

There’s a truck fragrant with crushed grass
carrying rumours across dotted huts.
A dog harsh in fawn fur sits on stilts,
listens as church bells chime for nothing.
The hours are long, even longer is the trail
of Old Girl’s wheelbarrow, potatoes tumbling