MANDENI – Nkululeko Zulu, a 44-year-old man from Machibini in Mandeni, KwaZulu-Natal, has shared a bizarre and heartbreaking tale of deception, after his ex-girlfriend allegedly tricked him into believing she had given birth to their child, who then passed away. His dreams of fatherhood were cruelly shattered when he discovered that the "baby" he was preparing to bury was, in fact, a doll.
Speaking to Isolezwe, Zulu detailed how his former partner, Diyana Maluleke, also 44, repeatedly led him to believe that she was pregnant. Over the course of several months, Zulu provided Maluleke with financial support, only to later be informed that she had given birth. However, details surrounding the birth remained vague, and when Zulu pressed for more information, he was met with the devastating news that the baby had died.
Heartbroken and grieving, Zulu immediately began making arrangements to bury what he believed to be his child. "I am very sad because I had already told myself that I was going to have a baby. But there was nothing we could do; we just started making funeral arrangements," Zulu explained, recounting his initial devastation.
On the day of the funeral, Maluleke arrived from Durban carrying a coffin, accompanied by family. According to Zulu's family, Maluleke appeared sorrowful, convincingly portraying the demeanour of someone who had genuinely lost a child.
As the funeral was about to commence, a relative requested that the coffin be opened so that the family could have a final opportunity to say goodbye to the baby. It was then that the shocking truth was revealed.
To everyone’s horror, the coffin contained a doll, carefully wrapped in swaddling clothes to resemble a newborn infant. The discovery sent shockwaves through the gathered mourners, turning a solemn occasion into a scene of disbelief and outrage.
"I almost had a heart attack, I threw the doll on the ground," Zulu recalled, describing his reaction to the shocking revelation.
The incident has left Zulu not only emotionally scarred but also financially exploited. He had been sending Maluleke money for various expenses under the false pretence that it was for their child's well-being.
Adding to his woes, Zulu now faces a summons to appear before his local chief. As a sanction from the Mathonsi tribe, he must apologise for digging a grave under false pretences of death, a serious transgression in their culture.
"It hurts, this is what is bothering me," Zulu lamented, expressing his distress over the situation.
Reflecting on the past two years of his relationship with Maluleke, Zulu expressed his disbelief at the elaborate and calculated nature of her deception. He struggles to comprehend what motivated her to carry out such a cruel act.
"Everyone asked me what she would gain from this act, but I don't know. But her intention was to keep getting money from me," he said, suggesting that financial gain was the primary motive behind Maluleke's deception.
According to Zulu, Maluleke even went as far as sending him a scan, further convincing him that she was indeed pregnant and that he was about to become a father.
Before the planned funeral, Maluleke had called Zulu, claiming that her family was demanding money to buy a goat to cleanse the home. However, Zulu, by this point, had grown suspicious and refused to send any more money.
Maluleke has not responded to requests for comment from Isolezwe regarding the allegations.
Mr Bheki Mathonsi, the chairman of the chiefs in the Mathonsi clan, confirmed that the incident had occurred but declined to provide further details.
The incident serves as a stark reminder of the depths of deception that some individuals are willing to sink to, and the devastating impact that such actions can have on the lives of others. As Nkululeko Zulu grapples with the emotional and financial fallout from this elaborate scheme, his story serves as a cautionary tale of love, loss, and betrayal.
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