Tsakani – Parents are concerned about the increasing number of learners at Tsakane Secondary School (TISOSO) committing suicide and dealing with suicidal thoughts.
Last week, two learners committed suicide, three attempted it, and a general worker at the school also took his life.
On Monday morning, concerned parents, accompanied by members of faith-based organisations and traditional healers, went to the school to hold a prayer session to exorcise the evil spirits.
The principal only granted them 15 minutes for the session. During the prayer session, many learners collapsed after being in a trance-like state.
Five learners were rushed to the local clinic by their parents, and an ambulance took another to the hospital.
Pastor Bonisile Msizi of the Pentecostal Catholic Apostolic Church of South Africa said he was pained by the number of learners committing and attempting suicide at the school.
“My nephew Esethu Mbizwene, who was in Grade 12, was one of the learners who committed suicide last week.
“We are here to find a lasting solution through prayer and spiritual intervention for order, teaching and learning to continue.
“We cannot continue as if nothing is happening when our children are dying like flies,” he said.
The pastor believed the school could have avoided the incident when the learners collapsed if it had handled the matter differently.
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He said he was disappointed that the district representative told the parents the learners faked the trances.
“Though he immediately apologised when the parents called him, it shows us how short-sighted they are on this matter,” he added.
Parent Naome Motloung told African Reporter it could not be that learners just killed themselves because there had to be a reason why they did it.
“These learners aren’t faking this. We watch them. This can’t be fake because these learners are in pain and hurting.
“All the organisations in the community, including faith-based and spiritual bodies, need to join forces to fight whatever is troubling this school,” she added.
While addressing the concerned parents, the district representative, Godfrey Mononyane, said he spoke to some of the learners who were in a trance, but after engaging with them, he felt they were faking.
“We must not turn a blind eye that some of the learners are faking it, and we will not allow them to disrupt the school,” he said.
He immediately apologised when the parents called him to order. Mononyane asked the parents to help find a lasting solution to the school’s challenges.
In a statement, the chairperson of the Pan African Student Organisation of Azania (PASO), Samkelo ‘Mandoza’ Mthethwa, said the organisation noted with concern the dark cloud of suicides amongst students.
“We are calling upon the intervention of religious and healthcare workers (social and psychologist) to help the school.
“The school should be offered payers and counselling. It should be urgently done and prioritised by the Gauteng Department of Education in the district because we are getting closer to the matric preliminary exams.
“An investigation should be done to trace what triggered these suicides in one school in a short period,” he said.
Mthethwa said the suicides should be criticised and contained with immediate effect.
If you suffer from suicidal thoughts and anxiety, call these numbers for help:
- The South African Depression and Anxiety Group Mental Health Line – 011 234 4837.
- Suicide Crisis line – 0800 567 567.
- Department of Social Development substance abuse line’s 24hr helpline – 0800 12 13 14 or SMS 32312.
- Adcock Ingram Depression and Anxiety Helpline – 0800 70 80 90.
- ADHD Helpline – 0800 55 44 33.
