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A 12-year-old boy committed suicide last week in the backyard of his home in Ekurhuleni. He was found by his father and uncle. The boy who attended Alberview Primary School in Alberton is thought to have threatened the drastic measures to his peers fearing the outcome of his year-end academic performance.

His uncle, Mr. Shabangu is shocked by the incident and claims that the child gave no indication to the family or the school that he was distressed. However, Mr. Shabangu did mention that the boy’s performance did decline since the beginning of this year.

The school has offered the use of the school’s hall to accommodate the funeral taking place tomorrow morning.
COPE Caucus Leader, Ndzipho Kalipa sympathized with the family over the tragic incident. He called for MEC of Education, Barbara Creecy to investigate why schools are without adequate counsellors and that these services should be a prerequisite for schools to operate and manage the psychological disorders affecting the youth.
“For such young lives to be lost, are an indication of turmoil and by heads of schools placing added effort to the child’s welfare, we can be able to curb such losses in future,” said Kalipa.

During his oversight visits to schools around the Alberton area, MPL Kalipa has made observations of bully tactics that does not apply to the school’s code of conduct. He believes that some children may have experienced traumatic circumstances of death, violence, abuse, or neglect which affects the mental health of vulnerable youth.
Educators must be able to identify these causes and be trained accordingly to deal with such situations, says Kalipa.