PUPIL FOUND HANGING IN GARAGE, DEAD

MBABANE - Barely three days after schools reopened for the third term, Ezulwini Community High School has lost a pupil.

Bonkhe Mhlanga, who was doing Form I at the school, is suspected to have hanged himself as he was last seen by his schoolmates when they departed after school.

 Mhlanga was found hanging from the rafters in a garage at around 8pm last Wednesday at the homestead where he resided.
Information gathered from his family was that the pupil was discovered by his friends, who anticipated watching the famous Uzalo in the house which was occupied by their friend (Mhlanga).

Mhlanga lived alone in the house which belonged to his neighbour. He was left to look after the homestead as the head of the family spent most of his time in South Africa.

His uncle, Zweli Dlamini, said what he gathered from Mhlanga’s friends was that they had just parted with his nephew when they made the shocking discovery.

Discovery

According to Dlamini, Mhlanga’s friends made the discovery when they returned to the house where their friend was believed to be.
However, upon their arrival at the house, he said Mhlanga’s friends stated that the pupil was nowhere to be seen despite that the door to the sitting room was wide open.

“His friends told us that they agreed to watch Uzalo together when they parted at dusk. It was a common thing that they watched television together with Mhlanga as he occupied a big house belonging to our neighbour, who resides in South Africa,” Dlamini said.
Dlamini mentioned that the family was still shocked by the pupil’s sudden death.

“We still have no answers as to what might have led Mhlanga to end his life if that was really the case. We have asked his close friends if he communicated any predicament as the family was not aware of any but none of them recall anything.”
Dlamini said Mhlanga would state whenever he needed anything from the family and friends.

Information gathered from a resident of the area was that the pupil jokingly told some of his friends that they would remember him for his jokes. However, the resident stated that the pupils did not read much into the statement.

When asked about these claims, Mhlanga’s family confirmed that they heard the same story from the deceased’s friends when they reported his death to the school administration.

“His friends told us that Mhlanga danced and told them that they would not see him anymore.  He was seen by some teachers dancing, however, they did not hear his utterances. Some teachers easily identified him when we reported his death because they saw him dancing for his friends,” said another relative who went to the school. 

Version

There was another version that Mhlanga was sent home for owing school fees prior to the incident. When asked about that version, Dlamini said this was new to him.

He said what he knew was that Mhlanga and other pupils were sent home to cut their hair.
“Yes, he was sent home to cut his hair but I do not think this could be the reason for his death. He was given money to cut his hair and he returned to school after that,” said Dlamini.
Chief Police Information and Communications Officer Superintendent Phindile Vilakati confirmed the report of a 16-year-old boy who was found hanging from the rafters at Ebuka in Ezulwini.

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