Mhlaba Memela
Mhlaba Memela
A 23-year-old mother apparently hanged herself from a tree after she was dumped by her boyfriend of three years.
The incident involving Buhle Mhlongo of the impoverished Qubuka area in Mtubatuba on the KwaZulu-Natal North Coast has left the community puzzled.
Mhlongo became angry when the father of her eight-month-old baby told her that their relationship was over.
Her mourning grandmother, Bonisiwe Mlungwana, said her granddaughter tried to commit suicide on Friday by lying down on the road so she could be run over by passing cars.
She said Mhlongo had earlier packed all her baby's belongings and left.
"I did not realize what she was thinking because she used to visit her boyfriend with the child sometimes," she said.
"I was surprised when her boyfriend came to my home asking for her. He told me that Buhle had left the child at his home but he did not indicate that they had problems."
On the day of her death Mhlongo called her niece and told her what had happened between her and her boyfriend and that she had decided to end her life.
She disappeared into the shrubs across the road for hours, Mlungwana said.
"We later found her dead," she said. "She had asked her niece to tell me that she loved her children but felt that life was no longer good to her."
Mhlongo leaves behind two young children aged eight months and four years.
"I don't know what to do," Mlungwana said. "I raised Buhle and other children under serious financial constraints after their mother passed away.
"All I want now is to give my granddaughter a decent burial - but I have nothing."
When Sowetan visited the family on Saturday Mlungwana was sitting in a dilapidated mud hut surrounded by her neighbours.
Neighbours expressed shock, saying it was the first time that a young person had committed suicide in their area.
Police confirmed the incident.
Jilted woman hangs herself
Mhlaba Memela
Mhlaba Memela
A 23-year-old mother apparently hanged herself from a tree after she was dumped by her boyfriend of three years.
The incident involving Buhle Mhlongo of the impoverished Qubuka area in Mtubatuba on the KwaZulu-Natal North Coast has left the community puzzled.
Mhlongo became angry when the father of her eight-month-old baby told her that their relationship was over.
Her mourning grandmother, Bonisiwe Mlungwana, said her granddaughter tried to commit suicide on Friday by lying down on the road so she could be run over by passing cars.
She said Mhlongo had earlier packed all her baby's belongings and left.
"I did not realize what she was thinking because she used to visit her boyfriend with the child sometimes," she said.
"I was surprised when her boyfriend came to my home asking for her. He told me that Buhle had left the child at his home but he did not indicate that they had problems."
On the day of her death Mhlongo called her niece and told her what had happened between her and her boyfriend and that she had decided to end her life.
She disappeared into the shrubs across the road for hours, Mlungwana said.
"We later found her dead," she said. "She had asked her niece to tell me that she loved her children but felt that life was no longer good to her."
Mhlongo leaves behind two young children aged eight months and four years.
"I don't know what to do," Mlungwana said. "I raised Buhle and other children under serious financial constraints after their mother passed away.
"All I want now is to give my granddaughter a decent burial - but I have nothing."
When Sowetan visited the family on Saturday Mlungwana was sitting in a dilapidated mud hut surrounded by her neighbours.
Neighbours expressed shock, saying it was the first time that a young person had committed suicide in their area.
Police confirmed the incident.
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