A beautiful short-lived life of Snethemba Mdluli (17) who was murdered on his birthday month 29 November and was laid to rest on 03 December, has left his family, friends and community in great agony and sorrow.
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The whole narrative of children being the ones to bury their parents has suddenly changed and no matter how disturbing it may sound. Parents have become the ones to witness the funeral of their children.
Snethemba died two weeks after his 17th birthday and according to his mother Portia Mdluli there were signs, and as much as she knew her son his changed behaviour really troubled her.
“Snethemba loved picking his little up from school, but one day he just told me to learn to stop relying on him to pick up his sister from school. For the entire month, nothing interested him including the celebration of his birthday,” said his mother, Portia.
He was described as a young boy who was selfless, who couldn’t stand to see his family or friends in pain. He was a giver, he used to save his money from school so he could share it with his less privileged friends.
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“My son was giver; he did things that a 17-year-old could not do. He was too caring and understanding. He knew which of his friends were struggling and he used his school money to buy food and share with them,” said his mother.
Teenagers have dreams and with Snethembe he loved to dance and sing. He was a joyful young boy who wanted more out of life.
“His dreams were about seeing me and his sister well taken care off. He longed to give us a life filled with harmony and he hated the living conditions we were subjected to by my uncle,” said his mother.
According to his grandmother Anna Zalina Mdluli who witnessed the murder of his grandson. Snethemba was fighting with his cousin Sphiwe Mdluli when her brother Eric Mdluli came with a gun looking specifically for Snethemba and shot him twice on the bed where he was lying face down with his cousin.
“When I entered the room to try and stop the fight, I saw my brother coming from the house carrying a gun. I told him to not reprimand children with a gun and he said he wanted to kill Snethemba and first shot him in the head and under the chin,” said Anna his grandmother.
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“It’s been 45 years since we have been enduring the threats from my brother and we were kicked out of the house and all of us stayed in the garage while he owned the house,” she continued.
Snethemba lost his life over a house dispute between his grandfather and grandmother. The same hands that were meant to protect him were the hands that harmed him and claimed his life.
“Our justice system is not fair. A man killed my son and is out on bail for only R3000, so my son’s life is worth that. I want to ask him if he finally got the house, he murdered my son for?” she concluded.
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