Chapter 1: The Missing Years

Five years ago, Mandla vanished without a trace, prompting an exhaustive search by the police that yielded no results.

"I will never touch drugs again; this isn't who I am. I need to return home," Mandla thought to himself.

Despite his resolve, the cravings for dagga and weed clawed at him, tempting him to indulge just once more. He had made a choice—to remain in a filthy shelter with other street kids rather than return to a broken home filled with conflict and trauma.

Mandla’s childhood was marred by the violent episodes between his parents, particularly his father's drunken rages that left lasting scars on him and his older sister, Naledi. His father, consumed by selfishness and alcohol, would come home to threaten and assault their mother, forcing Mandla to flee. Leaving behind his family and the pain, he ended up on the streets, far from Worcester.

After becoming homeless, Mandla found himself in Cape Town, where he slept under bridges among other children his age. The streets became his new reality as he tried to erase memories of home. He survived by begging for food and money, often spending what little he received on drugs. Yet, he still held onto his mother’s teachings, praying each night for guidance.

Today, hunger gnawed at him; he hadn’t eaten in two days, and his clothes were ragged and dirty. Standing by the road with his placard, he approached a shiny Golf GTI as the light turned red.

"I haven't eaten in two days; please help," he pleaded.

The woman driving the car reached for a sandwich and, upon a closer look, gasped, "Mandla! Is that you?" Shocked by his disheveled appearance, she was momentarily taken aback. As the light changed, she drove off but quickly made a U-turn, desperate to confirm her suspicions. However, Mandla had already fled, leaving her confused and on the verge of tears.

Back under the bridge, Mandla consumed the bread, his heart heavy with thoughts of the woman who had recognized him. What was she doing in Cape Town?

The next day, the woman returned, determined to find Mandla. She spotted him sitting at a building corner and called out, "Mandla!"

"Yes, it's me, Naledi, your brother. You remember me, right?"

Tears streamed down her face as she confronted him, "You left us five years ago! We’ve been searching everywhere for you!"

Mandla struggled to respond, his heart aching. At only fifteen, he had felt he had no choice but to escape the nightmare at home. The memories of his father’s violence haunted him, and the thought of returning was terrifying.

The siblings took a 111 km drive back to Worcester, a place that felt alien to Mandla now. When they arrived, he hesitated to enter their old house.

"Don't worry; Dad isn't home anymore," Naledi reassured him.

But when Mandla looked inside, he was met with silence—his mother was also absent. Panic gripped him; he needed answers about their family’s fate. Naledi, still sobbing, delivered the heartbreaking news.

"Mandla, Mama couldn’t survive. She died two years ago after Dad beat her badly. She was in a coma for a while; the doctors said she had dementia. If only you had been there, maybe things would be different."

Stunned, Mandla felt a wave of guilt wash over him. "Where is he? I swear I'll kill him!"

His anger flared as he demanded to know his father's whereabouts.

"Wait! He’s gone too. After the police came for him, he… he shot himself. If you had stayed, maybe things wouldn't have ended this way. I had no one to lean on; I was just a girl," Naledi cried.

"You're right, Naledi. I should have never left. This is all my fault," Mandla lamented.

"N-no! Stop blaming yourself. They were adults, and we need to accept that they’re gone and move on," Naledi urged.

Now, only the two of them remained. Naledi had found success despite the hardships, becoming a nurse at Groote Schuur Hospital in Cape Town. She encouraged Mandla to return to school the following year, and he agreed.

Chapter 2: The Road to Healing

The journey of healing is never easy, but Mandla was determined to start anew.

The first video, "I'll Take The Blame - Ricky Skaggs with Sharon and Cheryl White," encapsulates themes of accountability and the emotional toll of family dynamics.

The second video, "Rod Wave - Take The Blame (Official Audio)," explores feelings of regret and the quest for redemption, resonating with Mandla's own journey.