Happy Sindane
Happy Sindane | |
|---|---|
| Born | Abbey Mzayiya 25 June 1985 |
| Died | April 1, 2013 (aged 27) Tweefontein, Mpumalanga, South Africa |
| Cause of death | Killed |
| Nationality | South African |
| Parents |
|
Abbey Mzayiya (known as Happy Sindane; 25 June 1985 - 1 April 2013) was a South African man known for claiming to be a white boy kidnapped by black people.[1] He was raised in the village of Tweefontein, in KwaMhlanga where he alleged he was mistreated, half-starved, and forced to live in poor conditions. He appealed to his supposed biological parents to come forward and reclaim him.[2]
Sindane made headlines in May 2003 at the age of 16 when he laid a kidnapping case at the Bronkhorstspruit police station and reported being someone who was stolen from white parents as a toddler by a family domestic worker.[2]
The story ended with an enquiry and a DNA test report in July 2003 that found Sindane was in fact the son of a black woman, Rina Mzayiya, who had died, and that his father was probably Henry Nick, a white man.[3]
Sindane was of mixed-race and spoke Ndebele. He was raised by Rina's friend, Betty Sindane and her father Koos Sindane, his "grandfather", in KwaMhlanga.[2]
He died in Tweefontein on 1 April 2013 after being stoned to death[4]
Dulux paint controversy
[edit]In June 2003 Happy Sindane became a center of attention and controversy when Dulux paints from South Africa used a photo of him, appearing above the tagline: "Any colour you can think of".[5] Dulux and their advertising agency, Lowe Bull were taken to court amidst public outcry, and Sindane was awarded R100 000.[6][7]
References
[edit]- ^ Happy Sindane: The boy who tried for white, The Guardian, retrieved 18 February 2025
- ^ a b c Fight rages for soul of Happy Sindane, The Guardian, retrieved 18 February 2025
- ^ Mixed emotions for Happy Sindane after DNA results, IOL, 16 July 2003. Retrieved 18 February 2025
- ^ Happy Sindane might have been stoned to death, Mail and Guardian, 1 April 2013. Retrieved 18 February 2025
- ^ "Happy in paint row". News24. Retrieved 2025-06-26.
- ^ "Happy will be smiling all the way to the bank". IOL. 2003. Retrieved 2025-06-26.
- ^ https://www.pressreader.com/south-africa/the-star-south-africa-late-edition/20130403/282918087921974?srsltid=AfmBOordbZ7ur5213corG-zGzrQbvvmOcNQvyto0qICUnSrzsMZ7Fa7u. Retrieved 2025-06-26 – via PressReader.
{{cite web}}: Missing or empty|title=(help)
External links
[edit]- Louw, Marietie: 'Happy days are here again', News24, May 7, 2004
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