Pictured above: The fake baby. Image source: Supplied
A Funeral That Turned Into A Nightmare
Pictured above: The fake baby. Image source: SuppliedImagine beginning your day shaken by grief, only to be hit by the cruelest of revelations. That’s the devastating reality that Nkululeko Zulu, a 44-year-old resident from Machibini, Mandeni in KwaZulu-Natal, now faces. He believed he had a child, mourned, arranged the funeral—only to discover a doll, not a baby, lay in the coffin.
(Pulselive Kenya)
This horrifying deception leaves him grappling not only with emotional trauma but also with deep questions about trust, love, and identity.
How It All Unfolded
The Deception Starts
Nkululeko's ex-girlfriend, Diyana Maluleke, reportedly told him she was pregnant. Following months of financial support, she announced the birth of the child—then claimed the baby had died.
(Pulselive Kenya)
The Funeral Preparations
Nkululeko, believing the child was real, made funeral arrangements. On the day of the service, Diyana showed up with the coffin. The family, engulfed in grief, believed they were saying their final goodbyes.
The Shocking Discovery
When someone asked for the coffin to be opened so family members could see the baby, the unthinkable happened. A doll, wrapped in swaddling clothes, stared back from the casket.
(Pulselive Kenya)
What Makes This So Disturbing
Emotional Betrayal
Nkululeko’s hope and sorrow were manipulated. He experienced a version of grief that leaves invisible, lasting scars.
Community Repercussions
In small towns like Machibini, word spreads quickly. This kind of betrayal shakes not just one man—but the entire support network and sense of safety around him.
What Can Be Done to Support Healing?
1. Offer Community Support
Neighbours, friends, and local leaders can show empathy—and reassure Nkululeko that the community stands with him, especially now.
2. Provide Counseling
Whether through local NGOs or mental health services, emotional help is vital during times of such deep personal rupture.
3. Legal & Social Aid
While this crime doesn’t involve a direct assault, emotional abuse is still significant. Victim support initiatives should step up.
Final Thoughts
This story asks us to consider: When hope meets deceit, who picks up the pieces?
Nkululeko trusted, cared, and lost. Now more than ever, he needs a community that responds with compassion—not silence.
Poll:
What do you think is most important for helping someone like Nkululeko heal after such emotional betrayal?
-
Community support and understanding
-
Access to counseling and mental health services
-
Legal intervention or support services
-
All of the above
Cast your vote or share your thoughts below.
Read also... Pretoria Serial Murder Scare: Four Women Found Dead in Weeks
Read also... Sleepover Horror in KZN: Innocent Night Turns Deadly
Read also... Philippi ATM Run Ends in Tragedy: Woman Killed While Withdrawing Cash
If carefully told stories that respect real pain—and inspire real empathy—matter to you, follow our blog. We keep the human heartbeat in every headline.
~BILLY JAYDEN LOUIS
Tags:
funeral deception, emotional trauma SA, baby doll hoax, Machibini tragedy, South African human interest, ex-partner betrayal, grief support SA
Sources:
-
Scrolla.Africa / PulseLive – The “dead baby” that wasn’t: how a man discovered a doll in his ‘late child’s’ coffin.
(Pulselive Kenya)
(Custom Open Graph Meta Tag inserted for: Man Almost Buries a Doll Instead of His Baby—A Story of Betrayal and Grief)
0 Comments