Alex teen dies from rat poison
A 17-year-old girl from 4th Avenue, Alexandra in Johannesburg, has died after she allegedly committed suicide by eating rat poison.
Khumo Maloka was a grade 11 learner at East Bank High School.
It is understood that on Sunday the teenager ost a smartphone that belonged to someone on Sunday.
She took her own life the next morning at home, in life in fear of consequences.
Family spokesperson Ben Thabo Maloka says they are shocked and saddened by her death.
“I wish my niece told us what was bothering her, we could have helped her to solve the issue,” Malosa says.
The family says before her death, Khumo told her brother what she planned doing – saying: “My dear brother I love you so much, but I have taken the rat poison to kill myself.”
Her brother took it lightly.
Hours later she was found vomiting and was rushed to the Edenvale Hospital, where she was certified dead hours later.
Alexandra police could not be reached for comment at the time of publishing.
According to the South African Depression and Anxiety Group (Sadag), 9% of all teen deaths in South Africa are due to suicide.
The group says in the 15-24 age group, suicide is the second leading – and fastest growing – cause of death. – Report by Malesela Mangena
