Why our 21-year-old sister took her own life – family
“In her letter she said she’s releasing us from the burden of caring for her.”
Those were some of the sad words Nqobile managed to tell the press as she grappled with the self-inflicted death of her sibling, Nokuthula Hlongwane.
Nokuthula’s letter was not addressed to her family. It was sent to her four-year boyfriend, Scelo Mthethwa, with whom she never discussed committing suicide.
She simply left messages for Scelo about an important letter for him on her laptop.
Before then, she went on Facebook and posted 24 photos of herself with the caption: “Before I go to heaven.”
Scelo’s effort at reaching her bore no fruit. Her phone rang several times but no one picked the calls.
“What I’m feeling is beyond pain,” said the 23-year-old devastated lover who received the tragic news the next day.
He was told that Nokuthula had jumped to her death from her 13th floor flat in downtown Durban, South Africa. She died instantly.
He said afterwards: “I didn’t see it coming. We talked about everything . . . or so I thought.”
Nokuthula’s sister, Nqobile, said “her suicide has shocked all of us.”
It was reported that Nokuthula had been having issues with her womb; the pain she felt sometimes unbearable.
She had left a hint last Monday she was saying goodbye to her friends. Tuesday watched her die.
The authorities say an inquest docket has been opened, local media report.
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