A 14-year-old boy from Mhlahlane village in Mqanduli, Eastern Cape, has died after being severely beaten by community members for allegedly stealing food.
Mqanduli teen killed for stealing bread sends shockwaves across Eastern Cape
The teenager, identified as Sive Dlulwana, came from a household that struggled daily to afford basic needs.
Sive reportedly entered a nearby house through a window and ate a portion of porridge, along with some bread and jam.
While still inside, the homeowner discovered him. With assistance from other community members, the homeowner allegedly led a violent attack on the boy.
“He was caught while still eating,” said a relative.
“They beat him so badly that he could barely walk.”
Sive returned home after the assault but quickly fell ill.
“We stayed with him until we noticed that he was getting worse,” a family member explained.
“When we took him to the hospital, he couldn’t even pee. The doctors had to drain him, but instead of urine, blood came out. He died a few days later.”
The Dlulwana family survives on limited income, mostly from Sive’s child support grant.
They said he took the food because he was hungry and they could not afford enough to eat. The family said they were willing to pay for what he had taken, but they were never given the chance.
Children’s rights activist Petros Majola from Khula Projects spoke out against the killing.
“Is this what society has come to? Killing children for food?” he said.
“I’m not saying it’s right to break into homes, but the boy was clearly hungry. It’s not right that he was killed over half a loaf of bread.”
Majola confirmed that police have arrested four people—two men and two women—in connection with Sive’s death.
The arrests were made shortly after the incident, but Eastern Cape police have not yet issued a formal statement.
Majola added:
“We need to find better ways to deal with poverty and desperation. Violence cannot be the answer, especially against children.”
