Teen teased for failing, hangs herself
2013-01-18 08:31
-
Durban in a Word
Thirty writers, thirsty views of Durban. Each piece evokes memories of the city that has shaped...
Was R126.00
Now R121.00
buy now
Durban - A KwaZulu-Natal mother arrived at home from work to
find her daughter hanging from an ANC robe tied to a tree in their yard.
Gugulethu Gumede apparently killed herself on Monday, just
days before the start of the new school year, because friends had been teasing
her after she failed Grade 11. She was due to repeat the grade this year, the
Daily News reported.
The teen’s mother, Ntombifuthi Khumalo, told how she saw a
shadow in the yard at their home in KwaDabeka, near Pinetown, and at first
thought it was a black dustbin bag.
But when she came closer, she realised it was the body of
her daughter.
There was a pot of boiling water on the stove and scattered
beans on a chopping board, suggesting to her that her daughter was preparing
supper.
There was no note.
“She was unhappy about not passing at school last year, even
more so because her brother, Mzomuhle, was in the same class but he passed,”
her mother said.
She wanted to drop out of school and her mother said rumours
that she was to marry an older man from the community were completely untrue.
A police spokesperson said an inquest docket had been
opened.
