Byline: Refeloe Letsoisa

21 November 2023

within the month of November the Leslie police station has received five (5) suicide cases, which raises an alarming concern not only at the police station but also in the community.

Two (2) separate incidents were adults meanwhile the three incidents were school leaners, with one shocking of a 10 year old. Parents and other teenagers feared for their lives as they questioned each other what might be happening in their area.

These incidents were all committed at the place of residence of the deceased.

In one incident, while police officers were patrolling on Tuesday, 14 November 2023, at about 18h30, police received a complaint of an African male who hung himself and swiftly responded.

On their arrival, there was an African female who alleged that on the fateful day, she came to check up on her nephew, but on her arrival, the door was opened and the burglar was locked.

She further stated that she opened the burglary and started shouting the nephew’s name, but he did not respond.

The aunt went to check on him in his bedroom, but he was not there.

She then went to the nephew’s workshop, and on arrival, she found him hanging.

The officers then went to the workshop and found a 57-year-old African male hanging in the middle of the workshop with blood on the floor.

All emergency personnel were summoned to the scene, and the 57-year-old male was certified deceased by the paramedics.

In another incident, police officers were on duty on Thursday morning, 16 November 2023 at about 08h00, when they received another complaint of an African male who hung himself.

On their arrival at the scene of the crime, there was an African female who alleged that at about 07h30, she went to the backroom shack, and suddenly, when she opened the door, she found her brother hanging from the roof, tied with a towing rope.

She further explained that she then went to fetch two people to assist her by removing the rope from the deceased’s neck and taking him to the nearest clinic for medical assistance.

On their arrival at the clinic, it is alleged that no one attended them; instead, they were instructed to go back home.

The police officers found the deceased in the main house, lying on the floor, facing upwards with blood on the left nostril, with no signs of life.

All emergency personnel were summoned to the scene, and the 19-year-old male was certified deceased by the paramedics.

Community members are urged to check up on their friends and family members on a daily basis.