Happy's puzzle takes shape

2003-07-17 08:20

Liela Magnus and Sapa

Johannesburg - The dates are vague, but Happy Sindane's history before he was given to Betty Sindane as a six-year-old is becoming more clear.

Ever since Happy heard on Tuesday that his biological mother is probably Rina Mzayiya, the pieces of the puzzle have started falling into place.

Happy arrived at the Bronkhorstspruit charge office in May and alleged that he had been abducted as a small boy by a domestic worker, known only as Rina, in Johannesburg.

He was allegedly given to Sindane and her friend, Thomas Banda. They worked at a construction site.

Happy said Sindane and Banda took him to the nearest charge office, but he chose to stay with them.

Sindane took him to KwaMhlanga, north of Pretoria, where he spent his childhood years. He can speak only Ndebele.

This was all that was known about Happy's past. A story about a boy who wanted to find answers to his questions. Someone who didn't look like his playmates and was teased mercilessly.

Reports say it's possible that Happy may be Mzayiya's son from an extra-marital affair with a German. Patricia Mzayiya, Rina's sister in Stutterheim in the eastern Cape, says the man's name was Moses. Happy was born in Tembisa Hospital in the 80s. There are documents to prove this.

She took the month-old baby with her where he grew up in the Cenyu Village until he was taken to Johannesburg by Mzayiya's twin sister, Irene, to live with their cousin in the Diepsloot squatter camp.

Ntozi Ben looked after Happy until she hurt her leg in an accident. Mzayiya fetched him and apparently gave him to a friend, Sindane, who had a son of the same age. Sindane and Banda lived with family in Verena, but Sindane and Happy later went to live with her family in Tweefontein.

Mzayiya apparently had an alcohol-related problem in 1999 and Patricia Mzayiya believes she died as a result of this.

- Beeld