D-Day for Happy

2003-05-26 08:08

Marietie Louw

Pretoria - Three families are waiting anxiously for the results of DNA tests conducted on Happy Sindane, the blond youth who has the country in a tizz.

Happy, who can apparently not wait to meet his biological parents, should know, probably on Monday, what the future holds for him.

He arrived at the Bronkhorstspruit police station last week and said he had been kidnapped about 12 years ago and grew up with a family in KwaMhlanga, north of Pretoria.

Since then, the Botha family from Danville, Pretoria, and the Mzayiya family from Diepsloot, north of Johannesburg, have come forward, claiming to be Happy's biological family.

Inspector Percy Morokane said it was not yet known when the results of the DNA tests on Happy, the Bothas and the Mzayiyas would be released to the public.

Happy was declared a minor on Monday last week and the court will now decide what is in his best interests.

Happy's plight made international headlines last week and two film companies have already expressed an interest in his story.

Meanwhile, grandfather Koos Sindane, in whose house Happy grew up, said he would welcome Happy back, despite allegations that he abused the boy.

"I want him to come back. I raised him and will not throw him away now."

Betty Sindane, Koos's daughter, arrived with the boy in KwaMhlanga about 12 years ago and said his mother gave him to her.

Grandfather denies any abuse

Rika Burger, the owner of a guesthouse in Bronkhorstspruit, said on Sunday that Happy was sad about his alleged abuse.

Happy had breakfast and showered at the guesthouse last week shortly after he reported to the police station.

A police interpreter translated the conversation.

Koos Sindane denied abusing the boy, but said Happy was a difficult child who, among other things, had a run-in with the law.

Burger said Happy was very friendly, but a bit nervous.

"He said he did not want to take a bath, but would rather shower. After the shower, he could not stop commenting on how nice the warm water had been," said Burger.

"I gave him a toothbrush, toothpaste and a comb. He asked for body lotion because his skin was very dry," she said.

- Beeld