The Toilet
The Toilet is a story about a young black girl named Mholo, from South Africa. She wants to do something about her life. She wants to get an education and be an artist or another respectable profession, but her mother thought that was a waste of good money. After writing her exam she goes to Johannesburg, hoping to find a job. She stays with her sister illegal, because her sister isn't aloud to have visitors. When Mholo goes out or in from her sister's place, she has to do it at specific times. She got a temporary job in a clothing factory. She had to leave before early in the morning. And then there was two hours left until the bus left at seven-thirty. She went to a public toilet for "Non-Europeans" and read some magazines while she was waiting for the bus. She sat there every morning and read, while she was waiting for the bus.
One day Mholo forgot to bring her key with her so she couldn't get inside her sister's door. So she decided to wait for her sister and she hoped that the white people wouldn't find her. But they did... The Madam found her, but she let Mholo go. Mholo's sister was angry with her when she got home, but they worked it out and everything went back to normal.
The next morning when Mholo was going to the toilet as usual to wait for the bus, she noticed that the toilet-door was repainted, and it was closed for the first time. She accepted that her toilet wasn't there anymore and she sat down on a bench nearby and watched the sun rise, while she continued writing a story.
One day Mholo forgot to bring her key with her so she couldn't get inside her sister's door. So she decided to wait for her sister and she hoped that the white people wouldn't find her. But they did... The Madam found her, but she let Mholo go. Mholo's sister was angry with her when she got home, but they worked it out and everything went back to normal.
The next morning when Mholo was going to the toilet as usual to wait for the bus, she noticed that the toilet-door was repainted, and it was closed for the first time. She accepted that her toilet wasn't there anymore and she sat down on a bench nearby and watched the sun rise, while she continued writing a story.
Gcina Mhlophe
Gcina Mhlophe is the author of The Toilet. She is a well-known South African freedom fighter, activist, actor, storyteller, poet, playwright, director and author. Storytelling is a deeply traditional activity in Africa and she is one og the few woman storytellers in a country dominated by males. She does her most important work through charismatic performances, working to preserve storytelling as a means of keeping history alive and encouraging South African children to read. She tells her stories in four of South Africa´s languages: English, Afrikaans, Zulu and Xhosa.