Happy Sindane has become another statistic in South Africa’s murder report. The police believe that he was stoned to death. – image – www.thenewage.co.za

Murder has always been a big issue in South Africa but lately, it seems that the levels of brutality are escalating. Ernesto Nhamuave was burned alive during the xenophobic attacks that gripped the country a few years ago. More recently, a man was dragged behind a police vehicle and died from those injuries. In KwaZulu Natal, families have been killed in their homes using the most inhumane methods. Yesterday, the police in Tweefontein were called to the scene of yet another senseless murder where a man was apparently stoned to death.

Happy Sindane hit the news ten years ago when he alleged that a black family had kept him as a slave in the township. The story shocked the world and led to an investigation into his claims. The courts examined DNA results and said that there was a strong possibility that Sindane was the son of Rina Mzayiya and her employer, Henry Nick. Rina Mzayiya was employed by Nick as a domestic worker.

The Independent reported that on Easter Monday, Happy Sindane was found dead on the side of the road. Though no motive has been confirmed, the police have reason to believe that he was stoned to death. Stones were found around his body and the injuries that he sustained, especially the ones to his head, are consistent with a brutal and methodical death by stoning.

When the Happy Sindane story broke out years ago, the Sindane family denied any wrongdoing. They expressed disappointment that the ‘son’ they had raised as their own could think up such serious allegations against them. During that media frenzy, a number of white families claimed that Happy Sindane was their child. This time, it is not clear who will come forward to claim the body of Happy Sindane.