Police have opened an inquest into the death of a 12-year-old disabled boy whose family buried him without informing authorities in KwaZulu-Natal.
Nondumiso Zondi died a lonely and painful death in a one-roomed shack he spent all his life in in Coffee Farm, KwaNdengezi.
He was allegedly buried at his home on a Sunday morning following his death on Saturday evening.
According to a statement issued by the department of social development, his father Mdu Zondi, 31, allegedly buried him in a shallow grave and did not report his death.
The department’s spokesperson, Lumka Oliphant, said the boy has been bed-ridden for 12 years in the backyard shack of his family home and was not attending school.
“He had cerebral palsy, a condition that affects movement, posture and co-ordination,” said Oliphant.
She explained that on Wednesday, about four whistleblowers alerted deputy minister of social development Hendrietta Bogopane-Zulu about the boy whose family would allegedly leave him in the room by himself with the TV playing on maximum volume.
“His grandmother, who was collecting a grant on his behalf, passed away in May this year, leaving his stepmother as his primary caregiver,” she said, explaining that the whistleblower further spoke about how the child had died and was buried.
“The family did not notify authorities about Nondumiso’s death. No death certificate was issued,” said Oliphant.
This prompted Bogopane-Zulu to visit the Zondi family on Thursday.
“That night after being told about Nondumiso I could not sleep. I kept on praying and pleading with God that there would be no truth to this story,” said Bogopane-Zulu.
Nondumiso’s stepmother Nontuthuko Zondi, 28, confirmed to the minister that her stepson had died after a short illness.
“Nondumiso’s father, Zondi, and three of his friends dug a grave for him and buried him on Sunday morning at 8am where family members and some neighbours attended the funeral,” she said.
Kwa-Ndengezi police were immediately notified by Bogopane-Zulu and a search and rescue team exhumed Nondumiso’s body, which was sent to the Pinetown state mortuary on Friday.
Bogopane-Zulu indicated that 243 children were murdered between April and June of 2022.
“This happens during Disability Rights Awareness Month. Disabled children deserve a right to a dignified life just like any other child,” said Bogopane-Zulu, who could not hold back her tears while the search and rescue team exhumed Zondi’s body.
Disability Rights Awareness Month is an annual campaign currently underway – from November 3 to December 3 – under the theme “Empowering Persons with Disabilities through a resourceful, sustainable and safe environment”.
KZN police spokesperson Lt-Col Nqobile Gwala said they were investigating the circumstances leading up to the death of the boy. “Investigations are underway, no arrests have been made,” she said.
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