Times Of Swaziland: FAILED PUPIL JUMPS OFF BRIDGE IN SUICIDE ATTEMPT

FAILED PUPIL JUMPS OFF BRIDGE IN SUICIDE ATTEMPT
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BY JABULISA DLAMINI on 31/01/2020 01:24:00


SIPHOFANENI - A family of a 13-year-old girl has been left shocked and
traumatised after the teenager attempted to end her life by jumping off a
bridge.
*Thoko, who wrote three suicide notes, informed her family that jumping off the
bridge was the easiest way to die after she had failed her Grade VI and was
forced to repeat the class.
It would seem the teenager could not accept this and decide to make an attempt
to end her life.
The incident happened on Wednesday, at around 7pm.
The bridge from which Thoko jumped off is one of the country’s most
recognisable and highest structures, located at Siphofaneni, Great Usuthu River.
It was officially opened by His Majesty the King in 2017.
Suspected
Even though certain details regarding the incident remain unclear, it is
suspected that the teenager left home unnoticed, and headed for the bridge.
From there, she simply jumped off the bridge and hit the ground.
Thoko survived the fall but suffered multiple fractures.
She is said to have been found by motorists who immediately called the police on
Wednesday night. She was rushed to the Raleigh Fitkin Memorial (RFM) Hospital by
a Fire and Emergency Services ambulance with life- threatening injuries.
Upon this reporter’s arrival at the hospital yesterday, Thoko’s father,
*Luke, refused that the reporter interview or take pictures of his daughter.
He said he had been warned by psychologists at the hospital not to expose her
child to the media. However after a while, when he was told that his child’s
identity would be hidden, he revealed events which led to the suspected suicide
attempt.  Luke informed this reporter that Thoko did not sleep at home last week
Monday, a day before schools opened for the first term.
“She is a wayward child, however, as a family we managed to control her. She
disappeared on Monday and when we went looking for her at her school, we were
informed that she was present though she was not wearing  uniform,” the
father, who had the suicide notes, said.
He added that prior to that, Thoko had allegedly lost some of her textbooks and,
as a result, her report card was not released by the school.
The father refused to give the name of school that Thoko attends.
He stated that after the textbooks were paid for, the report card was released
and it was discovered that Thoko had not made it to Grade VII.
“Despite her being ordered to repeat the grade, we encouraged her to go to
school as she would do well this time around.
We were informally told that she had been expelled from the school, hence her
move to try and commit suicide.
“We again enquired from the school about the latest developments, however, we
were told that they were not true. Upon arrival at home later, we did not find
her and when she eventually pitched, she had brought the suicide notes, however,
without anyone noticing,” Luke added.
Suicide
He said he was called by the police on Wednesday at around 7pm, informing him
that Thoko had tried committing suicide by jumping off the bridge and an
ambulance had already been called to ferry her to hospital.
“Namuhla ngiya le blohweni, ngyotibulala, sengidziniwe, - loosely translated,
‘Today, I am headed to the bridge as I want to end my life, I am tired”
reads in part one of the suicide notes.
When Thoko got to hospital after the suicide attempt, she was taken for X-rays.
It was gathered that medical doctors later referred her to the Mbabane
Government Hospital for scans and more check-ups as there were fears that her
spinal cord and brain were also affected when the incident occurred.
Chief Police Information and Communications Officer Superintendent Phindile
Vilakati confirmed the incident and said investigations were still underway.
Increasing
Swaziland Action Group Against Abuse (SWAGAA) Communications and Advocacy
Officer Slindele Nxumalo said youth suicide attempts were an increasing trend
which required adults, parents and guardians, to question themselves what the
causes were.
“Attempted suicide cases are more prevalent among teenage girls, however, with
adolescent boys, they always succeed in committing the suicide.
“This therefore begs the question to parents as to whether or not they give
themselves time to get to know and better understand their children, especially
the youth, without being judgemental towards them,” Nxumalo said.  She added
that after experiencing defeat, the youth was afraid of being scorned, judged or
given an ultimatum because there could be a lot of underlying issues that had
not been dealt with before and eventually leading to their failure.
“The family of this girl in question is advised and encouraged to allow her to
recuperate then seek other counselling services for her psychological well-being
after the ordeal. She will need family support at all times,” Nxumalo added.