Penwell Dlamini
Penwell Dlamini
Isaac "Faku" Masoleng committed suicide last night and close friends say there were signs that he would do this because he was under a lot of stress.
Masoleng, 30, of Dlamini in Soweto, shot himself in the head and was found by his friend Kagiso Bokala lying on his bed with the gun next to him.
He was still breathing.
Bokala called Sowetan and we organised an ambulance but Masoleng died 20 minutes after arriving in hospital.
Bokala, 29, had been friends with Masoleng since they were teenagers.
"Faku called me at 4.30pm and said 'I love you' but he was crying," Bokala said.
He rushed to Masoleng's home at 6pm and found the house locked. He entered through an open window and found Faku in pain.
"My friend had complained about problems with his wife so to the extent that he left his job last month and started drinking excessively," Bokala said.
Masoleng is one of many South Africans who have taken their lives this festive season.
Early this month South African Under-23 striker Siphiwe Khumalo was found hanging in a student residence after he killed his girlfriend Nonhlanhla Kunene.
The couple, both aged 23, were students at the Vaal University of Technology.
Cassey Amoore, spokesman of the SA Depression and Anxiety Group, said it was common for depressed people to commit suicide this time of the year.
"Some people are lonely and distressed because during the festive season people get time to be with themselves. So they think a lot," Amoore said.
She said many men used guns to commit suicide or hanged themselves, while women use pills and cleaning liquids that are often not successful.
Amoore said on average 22 South Africans commit suicide daily and 220 failed attempts are recorded. Suicidal people normally provide signs, which those around them often miss.
"When people are stressed they need to speak to someone or go to any government hospital where they can get free counseling," Amoore said.
The symptoms of depression:
lHopelessness and pessimism.
lFeelings of guilt and worthlessness.
lFatigue and restlessness and overeating or loss of appetite.
Those in distress can call a toll-free number 0800 567 567.
suicide man was stressed
Penwell Dlamini
Penwell Dlamini
Isaac "Faku" Masoleng committed suicide last night and close friends say there were signs that he would do this because he was under a lot of stress.
Masoleng, 30, of Dlamini in Soweto, shot himself in the head and was found by his friend Kagiso Bokala lying on his bed with the gun next to him.
He was still breathing.
Bokala called Sowetan and we organised an ambulance but Masoleng died 20 minutes after arriving in hospital.
Bokala, 29, had been friends with Masoleng since they were teenagers.
"Faku called me at 4.30pm and said 'I love you' but he was crying," Bokala said.
He rushed to Masoleng's home at 6pm and found the house locked. He entered through an open window and found Faku in pain.
"My friend had complained about problems with his wife so to the extent that he left his job last month and started drinking excessively," Bokala said.
Masoleng is one of many South Africans who have taken their lives this festive season.
Early this month South African Under-23 striker Siphiwe Khumalo was found hanging in a student residence after he killed his girlfriend Nonhlanhla Kunene.
The couple, both aged 23, were students at the Vaal University of Technology.
Cassey Amoore, spokesman of the SA Depression and Anxiety Group, said it was common for depressed people to commit suicide this time of the year.
"Some people are lonely and distressed because during the festive season people get time to be with themselves. So they think a lot," Amoore said.
She said many men used guns to commit suicide or hanged themselves, while women use pills and cleaning liquids that are often not successful.
Amoore said on average 22 South Africans commit suicide daily and 220 failed attempts are recorded. Suicidal people normally provide signs, which those around them often miss.
"When people are stressed they need to speak to someone or go to any government hospital where they can get free counseling," Amoore said.
The symptoms of depression:
lHopelessness and pessimism.
lFeelings of guilt and worthlessness.
lFatigue and restlessness and overeating or loss of appetite.
Those in distress can call a toll-free number 0800 567 567.
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