6 days ago
Mqanduli teen's life cut short over stolen bread, jam and porridge - ‘He was desperate and hungry'
On May 7, 2025, a tragic incident unfolded in Mqanduli, Eastern Cape, where the theft of half a loaf of bread led to the brutal death of a 14-year-old boy. His life was taken by neighbors who viewed the act of stealing bread as an unforgivable crime.
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In a shocking and disturbing incident, the Dlulwana family has been left reeling and mourning the loss of their 14-year-old boy while praying for the full recovery of their 16-year-old boy who was also implicated in the crime for allegedly stealing money.
The family spokesperson Manini Dlulwana narrated to DRUM the events that led to the boys' demise.
'My nephews were beaten as they were accused of stealing from the neighbour's house. It's two of them, the other one is 14 years old, who's deceased, and the other is 16 years old. The 14-year-old wasn't caught red handed, he only got exposed when his cousin, the 16 -year-old was caught trespassing and entering through the window to steal money, and they interrogated him about the other things that usually go missing in the house, including the half of bread, jam and instant porridge but he (16-year-old) had no knowledge of any of them and they eventually found out it was the 14-year-old who stole the other stuff,' he said.
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He further stated that the two boys are related as they share the same surname but didn't reside in the same household, he says that their families are struggling to make ends meet, and poverty may have driven the boys to steal out of desperation and hunger.
'The boys still have parents, both of them, however they're not working and are struggling to make ends meet and hunger may have played a significant role in the boys' decision to engage in theft,' he added.
He also revealed that the boys were subjected to extreme physical abuse by four adults as their punishment, including being beaten with knobkieries and having salt poured onto their bodies or wounds so as to cause further suffering and inflict maximum pain.
'The 14-year-old suffered tremendous pain and eventually succumbed to his wounds on May 11, while the 16-year-old is currently in a critical but stable condition fighting for his life in hospital. However, the perpetrators were arrested but got out on R500 bail each on May 22 and are expected to appear in court on June 15,' he stated.
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As the family grapples with the trauma and grief of their beloved son, they are united in their demand for justice. Yet, their efforts are being frustrated by the slow pace of the investigation and the apparent lack of progress. The family's pain is compounded by the sense that their son's memory is not being honoured or respected through the justice system, leaving them feeling helpless.
'We're really deepened with heartbreak and sadness as a family, and I don't think we would ever heal or get past this. The only thing that would suffice from this heartache is seeing justice taking its course, but the police are derailing the case, making the pain even more unbearable as there's nothing tangible they're telling us as a family, they were supposed to visit us, but they haven't come.'
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In retrospect, he believes that therapy could have been a valuable resource in helping them navigate the trauma and pain of their loss. However, given the passage of time, they have come to rely on their own coping mechanisms, learning to take things one day at a time.
'If there could've been anything done for us, therapy or counselling would have been it, because this really came as a blow to us as the whole thing was untimely, and it's not just one, but two of our sons affected, but time has gone by now and we've found ways to deal with the grief on our own,' he concluded.
