Back view photo of old woman moving in wheelchair in the lobby at airport. Copy space in left side. Image: Adobe Stock.
Disabled 12-year-old from KZN ‘buried secretly’ in a shallow grave
Disabled Nondumiso Zondi from KwaNdengezi was reportedly bed-ridden all his life. He was secretly buried and has no death certificate.
Back view photo of old woman moving in wheelchair in the lobby at airport. Copy space in left side. Image: Adobe Stock.
The South African Police Service (SAPS) has launched an investigation after 12-year-old disabled Nondumiso Zondi was buried in a shallow grave without authorities being notified.
Zondi reportedly died on 5 November lonely and was buried at home on Sunday 6 November, morning following his death. His father Mdu Zondi (31) allegedly buried him in a shallow grave and did not report the death.
DISABLED BOY BURIED IN SHALLOW GRAVE
According to the Department of Social Development, the disabled 12-year-old who had cerebral palsy had been bed-ridden his whole life in the backyard of his family home and was not attending school.
The department’s spokesperson Lumka Olifant said on Wednesday, 9 November a whistleblower alerted Deputy Minister of Social Development Hendrietta Bogopane-Zulu about Nondumiso Zondi whose death was not reported to authorities and whose family allegedly would leave him in a one room shack by himself with the TV playing on maximum volume.
The child’s grandmother who was collecting a grant on his behalf passed away in May this year leaving his stepmother as his primary care giver.
Bogopane-Zulu visited the Zondi family on Thursday, 10 November.
The disabled child’s stepmother Nontuthuko Zondi confirmed to Bogopane-Zulu that he had died on Saturday after a short illness and due to lack of funds, the child’s father Mdu Zondi and three of his friends dug a grave and buried him on Sunday morning at 08:00 where family members and some neighbours had attended the funeral.
Olifant said KwaNdengezi police were immediately notified by Bogopane-Zulu and the Search and Rescue team exhumed Nondumiso’s body which was sent to the Pinetown state mortuary.
The South African Police Service (SAPS) is investigating the circumstances leading up to the death of the boy.
Bogopane-Zulu said the incident happens during Disability Rights Awareness Month and disabled children deserve a right to a dignified life just like any other child.
Disability Rights Awareness Month (DRAM) is an annual campaign currently underway from 03 November to 03 December.
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