Suicide girl wanted good school

2006-01-12 15:27

Riot Hlatshwayo

Polokwane - A young teenager committed suicide when schools reopened on Wednesday after complaining about having to attend a local high school.

Mona Mudau, 13, of Spork Park in Seshego near Polokwane, Limpopo, had passed Grade 7 with flying colours last year and had wanted to go to a good high school.

Instead, she was enrolled at Molautsi high school, which she believed wouldn't give her a good enough education.

"Her younger sister told us she'd been complaining that morning about being forced to register at the school," said Seshego police spokesperson, Inspector Mohlaka Mashiane on Thursday. "We are not saying this was the motive but it will also form part of our investigations."

At about 13:00 her parents found her hanging from the rafters of the shack she shared with her sister. She was in school uniform and had used the straps of the school bag to hang herself.

Mashiane said the girl didn't leave a suicide note behind.

The principal of Molautsi high school, Dan Maputla, said he had heard about a pupil committing suicide, but that he didn't know any details.

"I was under the impression that the girl might have (committed suicide) because she was not admitted at this school," said Maputla on Thursday.

He said he still had to confirm that she had been registered at the school.

Maputla denied that education standards at the school were poor, saying the school had obtained an 89% pass rate for Grade 12 last year.

"This is proof enough that we are doing our best at this school," said Maputla.

He said there were good results in the lower grades too.

- African Eye