Child (10) attempts suicide at Boksburg North aftercare
The school was in the process of getting the child help from Kuselo Child and Youth Services.
A 10-year-old learner has been admitted in hospital after he reportedly tried to take his own life on Thursday afternoon (May 26) at Smiley Kids Boksburg North, where he attends aftercare.
Smiley Kids management confirmed the incident, saying the boy who tried to harm himself has been reportedly facing problems at home, and he also has anger management issues.
“Our centre was in the process of arranging psychological help for him, but this initiative required his parent to give consent before we could start the process.
“His mother eventually gave us the consent letter on Wednesday evening (May 25) allowing the school to arrange help for the boy. However, he tried to harm himself on Thursday while we were still in the process of getting him help through Kuselo Child and Youth Services,” said the school management.
The school explained that it was time for the boy to get food and then do his homework, but the boy said he wanted to go to the bathroom.
It appears he didn’t go to the bathroom; instead he went to a section of the school yard where the teachers could not see him as they were in the classrooms with the other children. That’s where he tried to harm himself.
The school added that the boy is currently in Charlotte Maxeke Johannesburg Academic Hospital (Joburg General Hospital), where he is in a stable condition.
Shelton Botes, head of marketing at Laerskool Goudrand, confirmed the boy is one of their learners.
“At this time we do not have much information and would like to urge everyone to respect the privacy of the family. We are in communication with the family. We convey our sympathy to the family and will support them where possible,” said Botes.
The Boksburg North SAPS spokesperson could not immediately confirm whether the police are investigating the incident.
However, according to a well-placed source, the police are aware of the incident and are analysing a CCTV video-footage from the scene.
The source told this publication that in the video clip the child is seen walking to a jungle gym with scarf around his shoulders, which he then used to hang himself from the jungle gym.
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