Charl Cilliers Police help aged woman reunite with her royal family
Ms Mdluli’s grandfather was the chief at the time when she left.
CHARL CILLIERS – When Const Millicent Mqoco first met the impoverished Ms Beauty Mdluli (75), she never would have thought that this old woman was from the royal house of the Mdluli chiefdom.
She helped Ms Mdluli reunite with her family last week after being away from home for almost 60 years.
Const Mqoco encountered Ms Mdluli during one of her community outreach programmes and felt so concerned about the old woman’s wellbeing.
Her heart broke for the aged woman who lived alone with her three dogs in a dilapidated shack at Charl Cilliers.
“I realised there was no one who looked after her. The more I came to know her, the more intrigued I was and the more I wanted to help her,” explained Const Mqoco.
This young policewoman made it a project to get Ms Mdluli’s shack renovated and fitted with a bed and a few pieces of furniture in December last year.
During this time Ms Mdluli told Const that she hailed from Kwamibela in KwaZulu-Natal.
Ms Mdluli was very young when she left her homestead to look for work but found love instead.
“She settled down with the man in another part of KwaZulu-Natal and they three children,” said Const Mqoco.
When the couple separated, Ms Mdluli drifted to the Charl Cilliers area in search of work which she eventually found on a farm in the district in 1964.
“Ms Mdluli later became involved with Mr Molefe. They were together for a long time until Mr Molefe died when their home was struck by lightning and burned down in 2017. Ms Mdluli was also removed from the farm.”
Ms Mdluli told Const Mqoco that Mr Molefe wanted to take her back to her people and they had been planning the long trip when he died.
“She has been living alone since.
“It hurt me to see her struggle on her own, which is why we first helped her to register for a social grant and to repair her home.”
Const Mqoco decided early this year to find Ms Mdluli’s long lost family.
“I searched the internet for Mdluli and Kwamibela and was surprised to see that the area is the official base of Mdluli royal house,” said Const Mqoco.
She then contacted the Hluhluwe Police Station commander, Colonel Mthiyane, to find out from the present-day chief if Ms Mdluli might be a relative.
“The chief had to consult the elders to establish if someone was still alive who knew Ms Mdluli.
“I sent him photos of Ms Mdluli in her 20’s.”
Const Mqoco was overjoyed when an elderly woman identified Ms Mdluli as her older sister.
“That is when we heard Ms Mdluli’s grandfather was the chief at the time when she left. She was the eldest of several children.
“The current chief is Ms Mdluli’s nephew.
“Her sister spent years looking for her. They thought she was dead,” Const Mqoco told Ridge Times.
Const Mqoco and Ms Mdluli left for Hluhluwe last Tuesday, 16 February.
Their first stop was at the police station from where Col Mthiyane escorted them to the royal house.
“Ms Mdluli became excited when we arrived in Kwamibela and pointed out the places she still remembers.
“The reunion with her sister was so emotional, but I could see Ms Mdluli was happy.”
Const Mqoco said Ms Mdluli stayed behind when she returned to Charl Cilliers.
“The only thing that Ms Mdluli’s now still needs is her three dogs. I do not think she wants to return to Charl Cilliers, but she yearns for her pets.”
Const Mqoco is daily visiting the animals to feed and care for them while their owner is away.
She walked this extra mile in the execution of her duties as a police officer because she believes it is part of her social crime prevention duties.
“God has given me a calling, not just a career as a cop.
“The greatest fulfilment is seeing someone was helped,” ended Const Mqoco.
