The family of a 13-year-old boy are seeking answers and justice after the Grade 7 pupil took his own life after apparently being bullied at school.
THE FAMILY of a 13-year-old boy is seeking answers and justice after the Grade 7 pupil took his own life after apparently being bullied at school.
The bereaved family said they had yet to be informed about the circumstances that contributed towards his death.
Those who knew Thato Gift Khumalo, who attended Beacon Primary School, expressed their shock over the incident and paid tribute to him for being a well-behaved and respectable pupil.
Thato’s sister, Ellisa Lefu, said that her nine-year-old daughter found her brother’s body after he had committed suicide at his home in Phomolong on August 6.
“My mother had gone to work and it was only my grandfather who was at home at the time. My brother and I were very close and he would tell me everything,” said Ellisa.
She related that the last time she communicated with her brother was when he sent her a message on Facebook asking for help to cut his hair.
“He said that the teachers were making fun of him because of his long hair.”
She said the family were never informed of any incidents of bullying involving her brother at the school.
“He only told me that he had fought back against a bully, where he was reprimanded for being ill-disciplined in 2020. He never mentioned anything after that, so I was under the impression that it had been resolved.
“If he was hiding in the staff room for his safety after school, the school must have been aware of what was happening. I believe that my brother is not the first person to have been affected by bullying at the school.
“I will not accept my brother’s death and want it to be thoroughly investigated. The bullies should be held accountable for my brother’s death if they made his life unbearable.”
She noted that, in hindsight, her brother had slept long hours and explained that he was tired.
“One day he came home from school and slept from 3pm and woke up at 10am the next day. It was not unusual for him to sleep, eat and go back to bed. Thato would often sit on his own and did not have a lot of social interaction.
“Thato would never pick a fight and would rather walk away in order to cool off during an argument instead of being confrontational. It was impossible to stay angry with him during the rare occasions that we had any disagreements.”
She stated that her brother had wanted to follow in her footsteps and become a soldier.
“He told me that if I could do it, he could do it too. He later changed his mind and said that he wanted to join the police force.”
Thato’s mother, Angeline Lefu, said that although there were no tell-tale signs of bullying, her son had been reluctant to attend school about two weeks ago.
“He spoke briefly about someone who was bullying him but didn’t give any further information. I only found out after his death that the bullies would wait for him after school to threaten and intimidate him.”
She added that she noticed that her son’s jacket was torn in the same place on two occasions.
“The material was ripped along the arm hole seams, but I dismissed it and thought to myself that boys were rough when they fooled around. I never saw any bruises or wounds on his body.”
She added that after his death, the driver who transported Thato to and from school informed her that he would wait inside the staff room at the end of the school day.
“The driver had to identify himself and explain to the school that he was there to collect him, as a protective measure.”
Angeline indicated that Thato was a quiet child who usually kept to himself.
“He would always reassure me that he was fine whenever I enquired if anything was bothering him.”
“It is indescribably painful to lose a child who is still so young.”
She added that Thato was the youngest of three siblings.
“I raised my children as a single mother, without any support. I did everything for Thato and it feels as if I have failed him even though I tried to be the best mother that I could be.
“I was not able to finish matric so my biggest wish was for my children to have an education and have a better life. I did not want them to experience the hardships that I had to endure.”
She indicated that Thato had not left a note explaining the reason why he decided to take his life.
“I have no idea what was running through his mind. I was informed that Thato is not the first pupil to have suffered the same fate at the school.
“The funeral will take place this weekend.”
Northern Cape Department of Education spokesperson Geoffrey van der Merwe indicated that the circumstances surrounding the suicide of the Grade 7 pupil were “not yet known”.
“We have activated our employee support services to provide immediate support and counselling to the educators and learners at Beacon Primary School,” added Van der Merwe.
“We convey our most heartfelt condolences to the family and school community.”
