Shock has gripped the Mangena community near Nhlangano after a 10-year-old boy reportedly took his own life in front of his younger sibling on Saturday morning.
The boy, identified as Aphiwe Hlanze, was a Grade 5 pupil at KaMngayi Primary School and lived under Lulakeni Umphakatsi in the Sigwe Constituency. Residents say the tragic incident unfolded around 9:40am when Aphiwe allegedly hanged himself from a marula tree near the family kraal.
According to a community source, Aphiwe and his sibling had earlier gone to fetch bread from the family shop, a routine errand. After returning and eating, Aphiwe went into a rondavel, took a rope usually stored there, and led his sibling to the tree.
He then reportedly climbed one of the higher branches, fashioned a noose, and hanged himself in full view of the younger child. The traumatised sibling, who is believed to be under the care of a relative with speech and hearing impairments, ran to raise the alarm.
The relative, reportedly unable to understand the child’s frantic gestures, eventually followed the child to the tree where they discovered Aphiwe unresponsive. Struggling to communicate, the family member hurried back to the shop to seek help. Witnesses initially misunderstood the urgency of her signs, believing she was alerting them to livestock theft. Upon investigating, community members found Aphiwe’s body and contacted the police.
Police confirmed the incident. Assistant Superintendent Nosipho Mnguni, Deputy Chief Police Information and Communications Officer, said officers attended the scene and have launched investigations.
This is the second such tragedy involving a minor in the Shiselweni Region this year. In February, another 10-year-old boy, Mzwandile Mahlobo from Efosini, was found hanging from a tree on his family’s homestead, shortly after returning from school.
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