Sanele Morgan Hlophe took his life last year leaving his family in despair
The family ponder what could have happened the days prior to his death and his sister.
Sanele Morgan Hlophe died at the young age of 17 at his house in Wesselton on Tuesday, 11 August last year.
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The last born of 48-year-old Ms Khanyisile Gladys Mkhwebane, was the baby of the family, surrounded by two sisters.
His friends recalled how he was a lively person, the life of the party and a pantsula dancer known by most of his peers.
The family ponder what could have happened the days prior to his death and his sister, Ms Nokuthula Simelane, pieced together events which led to that fateful day.
“We all are scattered around Ermelo and Sanele lived alone in another house in Wesselton, closer to his school, where he was doing Grade 9,” she said.
It is alleged Sanele was caught at his school smoking marijuana and allegedly received severe punishment after being caught.
According to his friends, Sanele wanted to retaliate, but they advised him not to do so.
“We were talking and asked him why he was bruised and he told us that he was at the receiving end of punishment at the school,” one of his friends said.
His friends thought it was the end of the issue, but it was not to be.
Sanele did not go back to school.
Instead the following day, Sanele asked his neighbour, a car mechanic, about the asking price for cables used for towing vehicles.
Mr Sibusiso Mavuso thought nothing of it and responded to the question.
That was the last time anybody saw Sanele.
His mother, who lived in Enyibe, called regularly to check on him, but could not get an answer.
She began to worry when a neighbour on the street called her, telling her the house was always dark with the television on, but no sign of Sanele.
This prompted her to call the sister, who lived nearby, to check on the house.
The sister gathered the family, fetched the mother and went to the house on Monday, 17 August.
It was there that the family discovered Sanele’s body, hanging from the ceiling with a cable.
He left no suicide note, the last message on his phone was to his girlfriend.
His mother was the first one to notice the body.
Police and forensics were called in and his body taken to the morgue.
When the family enquired from his friends what had happened, they told them about the altercation at the school.
His mother has been in and out of hospital, diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder.
“We are not at peace and do not think we will get over it soon,” his sister concluded.
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