mabalane, n.
Pronunciation: Brit. /mabəˈlɑːneɪ/, /ˌmabəˈlɑːn/, U.S. /ˌmæbəˈlɑneɪ/, /ˌmæbəˈlɑn/, S. Afr. /ˌmʌbəˈlɑːni/, /ˌmʌbəˈlɑːn/
Forms: 19– mabalane, 19– mabhalana, 19– mabhalane, 19– mbalan, 19– mo-bhalane.
Etymology: < Zulu umabhalane (plural omabalane) and Siswati mabhalane (plural bomabalane) clerk, secretary < bhala to write. Compare Fanakalo mabalan mine clerk.
The forms umabalane and (plural) o-mabalane, bo-mabalane are sometimes found in English use.
S. Afr.
A clerk, a secretary; a person whose work includes the keeping of written records.
1925 Eastern Province Herald(Port Elizabeth) 18 Sept. 10 Corruption was practised on the mines. Police boys' or boss boys' jobs were ‘bought’ by paying £1 to £2 to the induna or head native clerk (mabhalana).
1959 K. M. C. Motsisi in M. Mutloatse Casey & Co. (1978) 28 Those who have presents for the bridal couple may now see the ‘mabalane’ (the M.C. of the wedding).
1979 M. Matshoba Call me not Man 61 My parents wanted me to go to school and qualify for a white collar job, to be a mabhalane (clerk) they said.
1986 Drum(Johannesburg) Oct. 51, I found myself in a queue while a mabhalane, looking very important and extremely busy..peered at a big book containing the names of job-seekers/pensioners and other victims of the recession.
1996 Dict. S. Afr. Eng., Mabalane. Chief clerk on the mine.
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