Berea street beggar remembered by community

SPHAMANDLA Qumbela was a 22-year-old street kid begging in Berea.

On 24 September, noticing a paucity of cars due to it being a public holiday, Qumbela moved from his usual spot on the corner of John Zikhali and Problem Mkhize Roads straight up north to Stephen Dlamini Road.

This was a good spot for Qumbela as there were no other beggars so he stood a good chance of making money from drivers enjoying their day off.

Sometime during the afternoon, Qumbela was standing next to the small island facing cars coming from Maris Stella School. 

Behind him, a black SUV was trying to cross a robot going towards Musgrave when another car travelling down Overport Drive hit the SUV on the side.

The SUV veered off course and hit Qumbela from behind, sending him headfirst into a nearby car.

When paramedics arrived, Qumbela was already dead. There were two other people who suffered minor injuries.

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Further south, Nonhle Zwane was busy begging when she was told her boyfriend had just died.

“I could not believe it at first. There was just a knock on my heart and the only thing I could think about was that Spha is still young. He is still a child,” said Zwane, referring to Qumbela.

Zwane said she met Qumbela about a year ago when he started living on the streets.

They spent a lot of time together and begged on the same corner before starting a romantic relationship.

“He was a kind person who just liked laughing. All we want for him is justice and for the person responsible for his death to face the appropriate consequences. We trust that the police are doing their work properly,” she said.

Zwane said Qumbela was from Mayville and lived with his aunt.

His parents died a long time ago. 

The death of Qumbela has affected some members of the Berea community, with flowers and crosses pasted on a traffic light near the scene of his death.

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Shabnam Mohamed, a Berea resident, started a #JusticeForSphe tag on Facebook in honour of Qumbela’s memory. “Poor people’s lives matter. Poverty forced him to beg but anyone could have been knocked that day,” said Mohamed, who has got a considerable amount of reactions to her posts about Qumbela.

“While it is heartwarming to see how much he was loved and that people want to get involved and help, it is necessary for the parties responsible to take full responsibility.”

Police said they are busy investigating a case of culpable homicide.

Qumbela will be buried this weekend in Mayville.

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