Happy Sindane

Happy Sindane
Born
Abbey Mzayiya

(1985-06-25)25 June 1985
DiedApril 1, 2013(2013-04-01) (aged 27)
Tweefontein, Mpumalanga, South Africa
Cause of death
Killed
Parents
  • Henry Nick (suspected father)
  • Rina Mzayiya (mother)
  • Betty Sindane (caregiver)
  • Koos Sindane (caregiver's father)

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. 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.

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.

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.

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.

He died in Tweefontein on 1 April 2013 after being stoned to death.

Dulux paint controversy

In June 2003, Happy Sindane became a centre 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". Dulux and their advertising agency, Lowe Bull were taken to court amidst public outcry, and Sindane was awarded R100,000.

References

  1. ↑ Hope, Christopher (21 July 2013). "Happy Sindane: The boy who tried for white". The Guardian. Retrieved 18 February 2025.
  2. 1 2 3 Carroll, Rory (23 May 2003). "Fight rages for soul of Happy Sindane". The Guardian. Retrieved 18 February 2025.
  3. ↑ Mixed emotions for Happy Sindane after DNA results, IOL, 16 July 2003. Retrieved 18 February 2025.
  4. ↑ Happy Sindane might have been stoned to death, Mail and Guardian, 1 April 2013. Retrieved 18 February 2025.
  5. ↑ Rossouw, Mandy; Jo-Ann Floris (17 June 2003). "Happy in paint row". News24. Retrieved 2025-06-26.
  6. ↑ Maphumulo, Solly (2003). "Happy will be smiling all the way to the bank". IOL. Retrieved 2025-06-26.
  7. ↑ "Happy Sindane". 2003. Retrieved 2025-06-26 – via PressReader.