This South Africa teen killed herself after her classmates bullied her ruthlessly, claiming that she practised witchcraft.
Lathitha Nako, 16, allegedly killed herself because she could no longer tolerate the constant bullying she suffered at Bhisho High School in Bhisho, which is the capital of the Eastern Cape Province of South Africa.
Lathitha died in hospital after swallowing pesticides according to local media outlet The South African.
In her dying moments, she reportedly said: “I want to be done; I feel so empty, I want to die and rest in peace so that I can be free.”
She sent a voice note to a friend in the days building up to her death talking about how difficult her life had become because of the bullies at school.
She said: “I’ve been going through so much pain my friend. I can’t believe Avumile [a female – possibly one of her peers – who allegedly accused her of witchcraft] and them did this.”
Lathitha added that it had become impossible for her to enjoy life, as she was always thinking about the bullies and the things they said to her at school.
She went on to say that she could not believe her classmates were accusing her of ‘witchcraft’ and that even one of the teachers at the school allegedly sided with the bullies and said that the teenager was a witch.
Kholeka Nako, Lathitha’s mum, told SABC news: “I am completely torn apart by what happened to my child.”
Kholeka added: “She had dreams of becoming a doctor. It breaks my heart that I will never see Lathitha again. I will only see her in pictures now.”
Petros Majola, from the Khula Community Development Project, said that bullying is an issue in schools that must be solved, as highlighted by this tragic case.
He said: “Let us sit down and develop a program that deals with bullying at schools. We are aware that they do have their own policies but at the same time we are not sure that they are vocal about these policies.”
The Eastern Cape Department of Education announced that an investigation into the incident has been launched.
It is currently unclear if Lathitha’s mum is planning to take legal action against the school.
