DUMPED BOY (11) BEGS TO FEED ‘JUNKIE’ UNCLE

MBABANE – After being dumped by his mother, an 11-year-old boy fends for himself, while also feeding his 34-year-old uncle.

*Sicelo has to wake up every day and go to school and over and above that, he has to beg for food for himself and his uncle.
He attends school at Ekwetsembeni Primary and will be doing Grade IV next year. 

His uncle, Siboniso Dlamini (34), who is unemployed, is always in bed waiting to be fed by the young boy. Siboniso was found smoking and also drinking alcoholic in *Sicelo’s presence.

When questioned on his actions and the consequences his behaviour could have on Sicelo, he said saw nothing wrong with it.
According to Siboniso, Sicelo was left by his mother under his care. The two occupy a dilapidated stick and mud house which has no door but a thin curtain is used instead.

Since the rainy season, they have been braving the weather conditions by using very light blankets to sleep with.   
Siboniso said he was a brother to Sicelo’s mother who left them to seek employment in neighbouring South Africa.
He said it had been a while since the boy’s mother left without returning. Siboniso said he was currently unemployed and they survived by collecting and selling bottles in order to buy something to eat.

“We normally eat bread as we do not have a stove where we can cook but sometimes we make a fire outside and cook,” Siboniso said.
However, he said it was very rare for them to cook and always ate bread with sweet aid.
Sicelo was discovered by reporters of this publication wandering around while begging for food. Although it was a rainy day, the young boy walked barefooted and said he did not own even one pair of shoes.

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