UPDATE: Teenager’s stepmother arrested, school responds
Hoërskool Hugenote pupil Mundolene Vosloo, aged 17, died on October 5, while the family was on holiday in Mauritius.
According to information posted on social media by Antonet Niettie Muller from Springs, on behalf of the family, Mundolene was found dead at the Hotel Riu, located on Le Morne Peninsula, to the southwest of Mauritius, at 4.30pm, after allegedly being assaulted by her stepmother, Marietjie Vosloo.
Read: Springs learner dies under mysterious circumstances
The family of five – including Mundolene’s father Mike Vosloo and two brothers- arrived in Mauritius on October 4 and was due back in South Africa on October 11.
Muller writes that prior to the death of the teenager, she and her stepmother were allegedly involved in an argument near the hotel’s swimming pool and she threw a glass at the teenager.
“I asked Marietjie to leave the teenager alone and also asked her not to make a scene in public,” says Mike, in a statement issued through Antonet adding that his wife and 11-year-old son then went to their hotel room with Mike close on their heels.
“Again I asked her to stop making a scene in public otherwise I would be forced to shorten our holiday and return to South Africa.
“She left the room angry and it was only after a while that our 14-year-old son called me for help as, according to him, Marietjie had slapped Mundolene and she had collapsed.
“When I arrived on the scene a doctor was already treating my daughter and she was taken to a medical centre where they continued treatment,” Mike says.
“Unfortunately after 30 minutes they declared my child dead.”
It is believed that an autopsy was done on the body of the deceased on Thursday, but the official outcome is unknown at this stage.
Read: Learner found murdered near railway line
The police were called to the scene and Marietjie was arrested and appeared in court on Thursday.
She is currently being detained.
The Mauritian police are investigating a case of manslaughter.
In the Facebook message posted by Antonett on behalf of Mike, the deceased’s father shares his grief.
“Thank you for your prayers during our time of mourning.
“I am shattered and my world has been torn apart.
“I don’t sleep and cannot stop crying.
“I cannot believe my beautiful child was taken away from me and I miss her terribly.
“All I wanted was a once in a lifetime vacation for my children, they were so excited and it is sad that it had to end this way.”
“Thank you for all the messages and everyone’s condolences.”
The Addie has made contact with Hoërskool Hugenote’s principal Frans Styger who gave the following statement:
“Mundolene was ‘n netjiese, spontane dogter. [Haar dood] is ‘n verlies vir die skool en ons voel bitter jammer vir haar ouers en broers.”
Translated from Afrikaans: “Mundolene was a neat and spontaneous girl. [Her death] is a loss to the school, our deepest condolences to her parents and brothers.”
