Bishops boy hangs himself

2003-03-16 21:44

Llewelyn Prince

Cape Town - A boarder of Diocesan College (Bishops) in Rondebosch allegedly hanged himself at the prestigious school on Sunday.

Shocked teachers and pupils did not want to comment on Sunday about the alleged suicide or the boy.

Grant Nupen, the principal, said teachers and pupils alike were badly traumatised by the boy's death. The school will release a statement on Monday.

The body of the boy, whose parents were apparently not aware of his death late on Sunday afternoon, lay on the ground outside the hostel, covered by umbrellas and sheets, for about two hours while police completed their investigation.

An witness, who has asked to remain anonymous, said she was working in her garden when she saw the body.

"It was hanging from a rope from the top storey. I got such a fright and took my toddlers inside the house. Someone found the body about one o'clock on Sunday afternoon and chaos erupted," the woman said.

She said security guards, pupils and teachers were milling around until someone cut the body down from the rope.

"I found the boy's death very traumatic, especially as a parent who has a child at Bishops," she said.

The witness said she suspected that the boy could be from another town because hostel residents normally went home at weekends.

"Normally, it's only those whose parents stay far from Cape Town who remain in the residence at weekends," she said.

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- Die Burger