Mhla Kwawa IiTwin Towers

IZIGANEKO zomhla we-11 kuSeptemba 2001, kwisiXeko saseNew York, eWashington, D.C., nasePennsylvania zibhalwe ngolungacinywayo usiba kwiingqondo zezigidigidi, mhlawumbi masithi kumawaka ezigidi zabemi bomhlaba. Wena uzibone, okanye zikufikele uphi iindaba zokuhlaselwa kweWorld Trade Center eNew York nePentagon yaseWashington?

Ukudlavulwa ngokukhawuleza ngolo hlobo kwezakhiwo ezininzi kangaka kanti ede yangakumbi ukusutywa kwemiphefumlo emininzi kangaka, kwenze abantu ukuba bamis’ ingqondo baze bazibuze.

Le nto isifundise ntoni ngezinto eziza kuqala kuthi nokhetho esilwenzayo ebomini? Ezi zishiqi zisikhumbuza njani ezinye zezona mpawu zethu zintle zobuntu—ukuzincama, uvelwano, ukunyamezela nokungabi ngundim-phambili? Kula manqaku mabini kuya kwenziwa unako nako wokuphendula lo mbuzo sigqibele ngawo.

Abasindileyo Bayabalisa

Ngokukhawuleza emva kokuba kwehle le ntlekele eNew York, oololiwe abahamba ngaphantsi komhlaba bavalwa, yaye izihlwele zabantu zaphuma ngasemazantsi eManhattan zihamba ngeenyawo—uninzi lwazo lucanda ibhulorho yaseBrooklyn neyaseManhattan. Abazange bazifunisele izakhiwo zeofisi nomzi-mveliso wekomkhulu lehlabathi lamaNgqina kaYehova. Bambi kwababebhace kummandla wentlekele baya ngqo kwezi zakhiwo.

UAlisha, (ngasekunene) ozalwa ngumama oliNgqina, wayengomnye wabafika kuqala. Wayemgqubagqubane ngumhlaba nothuthu.a Wayichuba ngelithi: “Ndathi ndisekuloliwe oya emsebenzini, ndathana nqwakaqha nesisi esasiphukuza eWorld Trade Center. Ndafika kummandla wentlekele kuthe saa iingceba zeglasi, laye livakala nefuthe. Abantu babeziintsalu ukubaleka oku, ngoxa amapolisa wona ayezama ukususa nantoni na esendleleni kuloo mmandla. Yayingathi lithafa ledabi.

“Ndabaleka ndaya kuzithi qhushe kwisakhiwo esikufuphi. Ndeva isithonga sokudubula njengoko inqwelo-moya yesibini yayintlitheka kwisakhiwo esisemazantsi. Andikwazi kuyichaza into eyayilapho phakathi kwaloo ntshinyela yomsi. Kwathiwa masiphume kuloo mmandla unengozi. Ndaya kukhweliswa kwisikhitshane esasiza kucanda uMlambo iEast sisiya eBrooklyn. Ndithe ndakuba ngaphesheya ndathi mandiphose amehlo phezulu ndabona umqondiso omkhulu othi, ‘WATCHTOWER.’ Ikomkhulu lenkonzo kamama! Ngoko nangoko ndajongisa ngakwisakhiwo seofisi salapho. Ndandisazi ukuba ayikho enye indawo endandinokufumana inyameko kuyo ngaphandle kwalapho. Ndazilungisa apho ndaza ndatsalela umnxeba abazali bam.”

UWendell (ngasekunene) wayengumgcini-masango kwiHotele iMarriott ephahlwe zezi zakhiwo. Wathi: “Ndandisebenza ngasekungeneni xa kwatsho udubulo lokuqala. Ndabona sele kuzele ingqushu kuyo yonke indawo. Ndathi xa ndiphos’ amehlo ngaphaya kwesitrato, ndabona indoda eyayilidangatye nje ilele phantsi. Ndakrazula ibhatyi nehempe yam ndaza ndabaleka ngelokuzama ukuya kucima elo dangatye. Nomnye owayedlula ngendlela wandincedisa. Yonke impahla yale ndoda yayililahle kusele nje iikawusi nezihlangu zayo. Kwaba sele kufika nabacimi-mlilo bemka nayo ukuze ifumane unyango.

“Akuzange kube kudala, ndeva kusitsho umnxeba, kanti nguBryant Gumbel weendaba zikamabonwakude zeCBS, phofu efuna ingqina ngale ntlekele. Njengoko ndandivele kumabonwakude, nentsapho yam yabona ikwiiVirgin Islands ukuba noko ndisaphila.”

UDonald, isigxadavu sengxilimbela, esibude buziisentimitha ezili-195, esebenza eWorld Financial Center, wayekumgangatho wama-31 wesakhiwo asebenza kuso, ejonge kanye ngakwezi Twin Towers nakwiHotele iMarriott. Wathi: “Ndesuka ndema nematha ndothuswe ngulo mbono. Abantu babetaka ngeefestile kwisakhiwo esingasentla. Kwaba ngathi zithe hlathu iingqondo ezi yaye ndandlandlatheka ukuya kuphuma kweso sakhiwo.”

Amanye amava ngawengwevukazi ekwiminyaka engama-60 ubudala neentombi zayo ezimbini ezikwiminyaka engama-40 ubudala. URuth nodadewabo uJoni babehleli nonina uJanice, kwihotele ekufutshane nezi Twin Towers. URuth, ongumongikazi osemthethweni uthi xa ebalisa: “Ndandisahlamba. Umama nodade wethu ngequbuliso bandikhwaza besithi mandiphume emanzini. Sasikumgangatho we-16, yaye babebona ingqushu idlula ngefestile. Umama yena wabona umzimba womntu ubhabhela kolunye uphahla ngokungathi kukho apho ubukhutshwa khona.

“Ndagxabhagxabhisa ukunxiba, saza sehlisa izinyuko. Kwakusisankxwe nje zizikhalo. Saphumela esitratweni. Seva ukudubula saza sabona kusithi granga umlilo. Kwaphuma ilizwi lokuba siye ngasezantsi eBattery Park, apho kwakukho iSikhitshane saseStaten Island. Endleleni, salahlekana noMama, waye ke engumntu wesifuba. Wayenokuthini ke, kwakusisisi, kukho uthuthu nothuli? Sachitha isiqingatha seyure simkhangela kodwa sancama. Noko ke, asizange sikhathazeke kakhulu ekuqaleni kuba ungumntu owomeleleyo nohluzekileyo.

“Kuthe ekugqibeleni, kwathiwa masiye kwiBrooklyn Bridge size siwelele kwelinye icala. Hay’ indlela ekwathi gingxi ngayo sakuwelela ngaseBrooklyn saza sabona umqondiso omkhulu obhalwe ‘WATCHTOWER’! Saqonda ukuba sikhuselekile.

“Samkelwa ngezandla ezishushu saza sanikwa neendawo zokuxhwarha. Saphinda sanikwa iimpahla, kuba sasingenanto phezu kwenye. Kodwa wayephi uMama? Sachitha ubusuku bonke sizama ukumkhangela ezibhedlele kodwa sancama. Malunga necala emva kweyeshumi elinanye ngentsasa elandelayo, safumana isijoli. UMama wayehleli kumgangatho osezantsi ekungeneni! Kwakwenzeke ntoni kuye?”

UJanice, unina, uyaqhubeka esibalisela: “Njengoko yayingamagxashi-gxashi siphuma kulaa hotele, ndandixhalatyiswe ngomnye umhlobokazi wam osele ekhulile, ongazange akwazi ukuphuma nathi. Ndandifuna ukubuyela ndize ndimthwale ngokwam. Kodwa kwakuyingozi gqitha oko. Kuloo mbhodamo ndahlukana neentombi zam. Noko ke, andizange ndikhathazeke kakhulu kuba noko zihlel’ apha entloko ibe ke noRuth ngumongikazi ophum’ izandla.

“Ndandiba ngajonga ngapha ndifike abantu befuna uncedo—ingakumbi abantwana neemveku. Ndabanceda abo ndandinako ukufikelela kubo. Ndaya apho kwakuhlaliswe khona iingxwelerha zinyangwa ngokobukhulu bokwenzakala kwazo. Ndancedisa apho ndihlamba izandla nobuso bamapolisa nabacimi-mlilo, obabuzele umsizi nothuli. Ndahlala apho de kwabetha intsimbi yesithathu ngentseni elandelayo. Emva koko ndakhwela kwisikhitshane sokugqibela esiya eStaten Island. Ndandicinga ukuba iintombi zam zixhwarhe apho. Kodwa andizange ndizibone.

“Kwakusasa ndazama ukukhwela isikhitshane sokuqala esibuyela eManhattan, kodwa andizange ndikwazi ukukhwela apho kuba ndandingenguye umsebenzi onikela uncedo olukhawulezileyo. Kuthe kusenjalo ndathana ntla nelinye lamapolisa endandiwancedile. Ndalikhwaza: ‘John! Ndifuna ukubuyela eManhattan.’ Lathi: ‘Ndilandele.’

“Ndithe ndisakuba ndifikile eManhattan, ndaya ngqo kwiHotele iMarriott. Mhlawumbi bethu lalisekho ithuba lokunceda umhlobokazi wam osele ekhulile. Thuba elaliphi! Kwakungasekho hotele apho ngaphandle kobugoxo nengqushu. Edolophini kwakuthe waca—kungathi zange kuphile nto. Kwakusele nje amapolisa nabacimi-mlilo, ababedlathuzekile, usizi lubhaliwe nje ebusweni.

“Ndajongisa ngakwiBhulorho yaseBrooklyn. Ndithe xa ndikude kufuphi nelinye icala, ndabona mqondiso uthile uqhelekileyo, ‘WATCHTOWER.’ Mhlawumbi ndandiza kufika zilapho iintombi zam. Nyhani, zehla zeza ngasekungeneni ukuza kundibulisa. Sawolana kububutyadidi nje ziinyembezi!

“Nantsi into eyandimangalisayo, kuyo yonke loo misi, uthuli nothuthu, kunani khona ukuva ukuba naku ndichwechwelwa sisifuba. Ndandingayekanga ukuthandaza, kuba ndandifuna ukunceda abantu, ndingabi ngumthwalo.”

“Kungekho Ndawo Yakumisa Nje!”

URachel, ibhinqa elisayiqalayo iminyaka engama-20 ubudala, lamxelela oku umbhali kaVukani!: “Ndithe ndisahamba ngakwindawo endihlala kuyo kumazantsi eManhattan ndeva kudlula inqwelo-moya. Isandi sayo sasisitsho ngamandla kangangokuba andizange ndikwazi ukungayijongi. Intw’ endayibona apho—ngubhazabhaza wenqwelo-moya ekwakubonakala ukuba iza emhlabeni. Into eyandimangalisayo kukubhabhela kwayo ezantsi saye siphezulu nesantya ebhabha ngaso. Kungekho ndawo yakumisa nje! Mhlawumbi umqhubi woyiswe kukuyilawula bethu. Kuthe kusenjalo ndeva elinye ibhinqa likhwaza, ‘Nantso inqwelo-moya ingena esakhiweni!’ Kwathi granga ilangatyekazi lomlilo kwitower engasemantla. Kwavuleka umngxumakazi kweso sakhiwo.

“Kuzo zonke izinto ezihambis’ umzimba endikhe ndazibona oko ndaba ngumntu ayikho efana naleyo. Yaba ngathi liphupha. Ndafane nde bhuxe apho ndikhamisile. Akubanga mizuzu mingaphi, yangena enye inqwelo-moya kwisakhiwo sesibini, zaza ke ezi zakhiwo zoyisakala zawa bhuma. Hay’ ke ngoku ndandingathi ndiphambene. Yayingandilingene le nto!”

“Ukuba Kunyanzelekile Ndiqubhe, Akukho Kwenza Ngakumbi”

UDenise, oneminyaka eli-16 ubudala, wayesandul’ ukufika kwisikolo afunda kuso eAmerican Stock Exchange, esikwisitrato sesithathu ukusuka emazantsi eWorld Trade Center. “Kwakusandul’ ukubetha eye-9:00 kusasa. Ndandiqonda ukuba ikho le nto yenzekileyo, kodwa ndingazi ukuba yintoni kanye kanye. Ndandikumgangatho we-11 esikolweni, ndikwiklasi yezifundo zembali. Bonke abafundi babebonakala besoyika. Utitshala wayesafuna sibhale uviwo. Sasisele sifuna ukuphuma sigoduke.

“Isakhiwo sagungqa njengoko inqwelo-moya yesibini yayibetha kwisakhiwo esisemazantsi. Kodwa sasingekazi ngento eqhubekayo. Ngequbuliso ndeva oku kunomathotholo katitshala: ‘Iinqwelo-moya ezimbini ziye zangena kwiiTwin Towers!’ Ndaqonda ukuba, ‘Ayikho into esiyihlaleleyo apho. Ngabanqolobi abenze le nto, yaye neStock Exchange siyalandela.’ Saba siyaphuma ke apho.

“Sabaleka saya kutsho eBattery Park. Ndabheka ngelokujonga okwakuqhubeka. Ndandibona ukuba isakhiwo esisemazantsi siza kuwa. Kwaye ndandicinga ukuba nezinye izakhiwo eziphakamileyo ziza kulandela. Kwakusele kunzima ukuphefumla kuba iimpumlo zazithe mfi luthuthu nothuli. Ndabaleka ukuya kutsho kuMlambo oseMpuma, ndiqonda ukuba, ‘Ukuba kunyanzelekile ndiqubhe, akukho kwenza ngakumbi.’ Njengoko ndandibaleka, ndathandaza kuYehova ukuba andikhusele.

“Ekugqibeleni, ndakhweliswa kwisikhitshane esiya eNew Jersey. Kwathabatha iiyure ezintlanu ngaphambi kokuba umama andifumane, kodwa ke ndandikhuselekile!”

“Ngaba Bethu Ndiyaligqibelisa Ilanga Namhlanje?”

UJoshua, oneminyaka engama-28, ovela ePrinceton, eNew Jersey, wayefundisa kwiklasi ekumgangatho wama-40 kwisakhiwo esisemantla. Ukhumbula oku: “Ngequbuliso, kwaba ngathi kuqhushumbe ibhombu. Umgangatho wawushukuma, kwaye ndacinga ukuba, ‘Hay’ yinyikima.’ Ndathi ndakuphosa amehlo ngaphandle ndabona umhlola—ngakweso sakhiwo kwakuzele ingqushu nesisi. Ndathi kwababeseklasini, ‘Wonk’ umntu makabeke phantsi intw’ ayiphetheyo. Masiphume!’

“Saya ngakwizinyuko, ezazisisisi nje, kwabe ke kufefeza namanzi. Kodwa noko sasingaphakuzeli. Ndaqhubeka ndithandazela ukuba sibe sikhethe izinyuko ezifanelekileyo ukuze singavalelwa ngumlilo.

“Njengoko ndandisehlisa izinyuko, ndandizibuza ukuba, ‘Ngaba bethu ndiyaligqibelisa ilanga namhlanje?’ Ndaqhubeka ndithandaza kuYehova, kwaye ndaziva ndinoxolo ngendlela emangalisayo. Andizange ndibe noxolo ngaloo ndlela ngaphambili. Soze ndisilibale eso sihlandlo.

“Xa ekugqibeleni saphumayo kweso sakhiwo, safika amapolisa ethatha abantu ehamba nabo. Ndathi ndakujonga kwezi zakhiwo ndafika zombini zithe nk’a ukuvuleka oku. Kwakungakholeleki.

“Kwandula ke kwenzeka into engaqhelekanga—kwathi nzwanga ngokungathi amawakawaka akaphefumli. Kwaba ngathi iNew York ime ngxingxilili. Kuthe kusenjalo kwatsho isikhalo esikrakra. Isakhiwo esisemazantsi sathi folokohlo! Sakhawulelwa sisisi, uthuthu nothuli. Kwakungathi kukumfanekiso oshukumayo. Kodwa kwakusenzeka ngokwenene. Lithe lakufika kuthi eli gqange kwanzima nokuphefumla.

“Ndaya ngakwiBhulorho iManhattan, apho ndathi xa ndijika ndabona isakhiwo esingasentla nocingo lwaso olude lukamabonwakude ziwohloka. Njengoko ndandinqumla loo bhulorho, ndaqhubeka ndithandazela nje oku kokuba ndifike eBheteli, ikomkhulu lehlabathi lamaNgqina kaYehova. Kaloku aph’ ebomini bam andizange ndikuvuyele ngoluya hlobo ukuba lapho. Yaye kudonga lomzi-mveliso walapho kwakukho umbhalo omkhulu obonwa ngamawakawaka mihla le othi, ‘Funda ILizwi LikaThixo IBhayibhile Engcwele Imihla Ngemihla’! Ndazixelela ukuba, ‘Noko sele ndifikile. Mandihlabele mgama.’

“Xa ndicinga ngezo zithwakumbe, kum kubetheleleka isibakala sokuba ngokwenene kufuneka ndibeke izinto kwiindawo zazo—izinto eziza kuqala ebomini ndimele ndizibeke kwindawo yokuqala.”

“Ndabona Abantu Betsiba Kwizakhiwo”

UJessica, oneminyaka engama-22, uzibone ezi zishiqi xa ephuma kwisikhululo sikaloliwe ongaphantsi komhlaba. “Ndajonga phezulu ndabona uthuthu, ingqushu nazo zonke iingceba zeentsimbi zisiza emhlabeni. Abantu ababelinde ukusebenzisa iimfonomfono ezisesitratweni babeya behlathuzelelwa ngamanwele ngenxa yokulibaziseka. Ndathandazela ukuba ndizole. Kwalandela olunye udubulo. Kwakusihla iintsimbi neeglasi phezulu. Ndeva imikhwazo, ‘Kungene enye inqwelo-moya!’

“Ndaphos’ amehlo phezulu, ndabona amanye amasikizi—abantu babetsiba kwimigangatho ephezulu kanye apho kwakulephuz’ amalangatye. Ingathi ndisayibona nangoku—indoda nebhinqa. Babambelela efestileni kangangethuba elithile. Hay’ ke baziyeka, behla intw’ engapheliyo. Lo mbono wawungajongeki.

“Ekugqibeleni, ndaya kwiBrooklyn Bridge, apho ndafika ndakhulula izihlangu zam ezazindibalekisa kakubi ndaza ndabaleka ukucanda umlambo ndisiya ngaseBrooklyn. Ndaya kungena kwisakhiwo seofisi seWatchtower, apho ndakhawulezelwa ndancedwa noko ndee bozololo.

“Ekhaya ngobo busuku, ndafunda uVukani! kaSeptemba 8, 2001, kungcelele lwamanqaku oluthetha ngokuhlangabezana noxinezeleko lwasemva kwesiganeko esihlasimlis’ umzimba.” Kaloku ndandiyifuna ngamehlw’ amnyama inkcazelo elapho!”

Umkhamo wale ntlekele washukumisa abantu ukuba banikele uncedo kangangoko benako. Inqaku elilandelayo liza kusibalisela ngalo mba.

[Umbhalo osemazantsi]

[Umzobo/Imifanekiso ekwiphepha 8, 9]

(Ukuba ufuna inkcazelo ehlahlelwe kakuhle, yiya kwimpapasho)

ITSHATYALALISIWE

1 ISAKHIWO ESISEMANTLA 1 IWorld Trade Center

2 ISAKHIWO ESISEMAZANTSI 2 IWorld Trade Center

3 IMARRIOTT HOTEL 3 IWorld Trade Center

7 7 IWORLD TRADE CENTER

YONAKALISWE GQITHA

4 4 IWORLD TRADE CENTER

5 5 IWORLD TRADE CENTER

L IONE LIBERTY PLAZA

D IDEUTSCHE BANK 130 Liberty St.

6 IU.S. CUSTOMS HOUSE 6 IWorld Trade Center

N S IIBHULORHO ZABAHAMBA NGEENYAWO ESENTLA NESEZANTSI

AZONAKALANGA KANGAKO

2F 2 IWORLD FINANCIAL CENTER

3F 3 IWORLD FINANCIAL CENTER

W IWINTER GARDEN

[Inkcazelo]

As of October 4, 2001 3D Map of Lower Manhattan by Urban Data Solutions, Inc.

[Imifanekiso]

Ngasentla: Kwaqala kwadilika isakhiwo esisemazantsi

Phezulu: Abanye babalekela kwizakhiwo zeWatchtower ukuya kuqhusheka iintloko

Ngasekunene: Amakhulukhulu abacimi-mlilo namaqela abahlanguli asebenza ngokungayekeleliyo kwindawo ekuthiwa yiGround Zero

[Inkcazelo]

AP Photo/Jerry Torrens

Andrea Booher/FEMA News Photo

[Inkcazelo Ngomfanekiso okwiphepha 3]

AP Photo/Marty Lederhandler

[Inkcazelo Ngomfanekiso okwiphepha 4]

AP Photo/Suzanne Plunkett