NHLANGANO – Residents of Nhletjeni are still reeling from shock after an 11-year-old minor was found dead, hanging from the logs of a family kraal.
Nhletjeni is atop the Mbulungwane Mountain in the Shiselweni Region. The discovery was made on Tuesday evening. It is unknown what might have led to the minor’s death. The minor was a pupil at Nhletjeni Primary doing Grade VI. According to a family member, who did not want her name to be disclosed, the minor was playing with other children when they returned from school, until it was dark, and everyone went into the house. It was gathered that she had then requested to be excused as she wanted to wash her uniform. It was said that when she did not return, the family went to search for her and made the grisly discovery in the kraal.
Hanging
It was said that she was hanging from the top horizontal pole (umgoco) used to close the kraal entrance. There were no missing body parts. “We are still shocked as there were no signs that she contemplated suicide, if she did,” said the family member. Meanwhile, the deceased’s mother, Khanyisile Dlamini, said she did not believe that her child did this herself. She said the kraal was not tall and, as such, the minor’s feet were touching the ground, which left her with questions on how she might have hanged herself. “Only God knows what happened because at the same time I am thinking how the person who did this was so quick,” she said. Chief Police Information and Communications Officer Superintendent Phindile Vilakati confirmed the death of an 11-year-old minor of Nhletjeni who was found hanging.
