Man living in wall to return home
AFTER two arduous months living in a hole in a wall in central Johannesburg‚ Mayenzeke Shiyani‚ 45‚ is looking forward to waking up to his favourite breakfast‚ safely back with his family.
They’re eagerly awaiting his arrival home after his younger sister‚ Nosiphiwo Shiyani‚ 20‚ identified him from an article on Dispatch sister paper TimesLive last week.
According to Nosiphiwo‚ the family did not suspect anything the day Shiyani left their home in King William’s Town. “He told us he was going to Grahamstown‚ which was his regular thing to do‚ but this time he did not return. We searched for him with no luck. I could not believe my eyes when I saw him on social media.”
Nosiphiwo went to the local Tamara police station near King William’s Town where Constable Nomsebenzi Mdoda helped her reach TimesLive.
Arrangements are being made to safely transport Shiyani back home and reunite him with his family.
He has been living in his cranny for the past two months, ever since he arrived in Johannesburg.
“His mental illness has always been manageable and we did not think he would disappear.
“I was scared of losing my mother over the distress she suffered.
“He does not have a wife or children‚ but he left us and his friends anxious as to his whereabouts,” said Nosiphiwo.
When TimesLive found him tucked away with a few possessions in his hole‚ Shiyani said‚“I miss home‚ especially waking up for breakfast. I miss my mother and my two sisters‚ who I left behind when I took a bus to the city.” — TMG