Sam Mxolisi Pono was born in Queenstown (now called Komani), in the Eastern Cape, South Africa – the long-awaited and prayed for first born child for his parents.
Sam’s family was musically gifted. He learnt to play the saxophone and was soon part of a popular local band called “The Modern Jazz Sextet”.
He was swept along by the glamour and glitz of this life, ending with running up debts.
He was introduced to a local lady, a social worker called Eginah Mzazi. Through her own change of heart, she interested Sam in reviewing his own way of life. An honesty about himself brought a new discipline in the band. His first decision was to be honest with his father about his income. This shook his father, who, in turn told him that he too had not been bringing home all of his salary. They often did not have the money for school fees for Sam’s siblings or for electricity, rent and food.
Sam and his father put their cards on the table, pooled their resources and paid off their debts. “It built a new family, because my brother and sisters had been copying me. Now they, too began to change,” said Sam.
In 1973 Sam spent some time overseas to see how others were tackling the problems in their countries. Sam felt God gave him a clear commission – to work for reconciliation and healing between the different races in South Africa and Rhodesia/Zimbabwe, and also to care for those from Africa living in exile and the descendants of the slaves taken from Africa.
“Through all these experiences I have learnt that the most ordinary man can be used by God in an extrasensory way,” said Sam.
Sam is married to Virginia, a Zimbabwean nurse. They live in Cape Town, South Africa. Sam is a father to four, a grandfather and great-grandfather.
Extracts from “Southern Africa What Kind Of Change”, by Peter Hannon
