Afotimber
Sibusiso Mbatha died by suicide on Monday evening after he was allegedly bullied for his sexual orientation by his teacher.
Mpumi Mbatha recalled the moment she saw her son hanging outside her home. Sibusiso Mbatha, 12, died by suicide on Monday evening. It is alleged that a teacher told him to leave his “gay tendencies” outside the school gate. The pain was etched on 46-year-old Mpumi Mbatha’s face as she relived the moment she saw her last-born son take his last breath.
Sibusiso Mbatha, 12, who was a Grade 6 pupil at Khehlekile Primary School in Thokoza, Gauteng, died by suicide on Monday evening.
This was after a teacher allegedly told him he had “gay tendencies”, and to leave them outside the school gate.
On Friday, the school organised a memorial service for him, where speaker after speaker described him as a bubbly and friendly person.
Mbatha’s teacher, Jabulile Xaba, said she could write a book about him.
“He was known as choma (friend) as he was friends with everyone. He was not a difficult child and connected easily with other children. He was not scared to take on challenges. He was part of the school choir and also participated in sports. We have lost such a great soul,” she said.
READ | Gauteng education dept probes allegations of bullying after Grade 6 boy’s alleged suicide
The teachers wore black to the service.
Mpumi attended the service and broke down when she saw the teachers.
She spoke to News24 afterwards.
She said:
When he returned from school on Monday, he said he did not want to go back. I told him it was exam time. He needed to be at school. That was the last time I spoke to him.
That night she heard screams from the tenants living in a separate quarters on the property and ran to see what the commotion was all about.
“I saw my son hanging with a skipping rope from the roof of the toilet. We called the ambulance, and they didn’t take long to come. He was still alive when they rushed him to the nearest clinic,” she recalled.
Sibusiso Mbatha died by suicide on Monday evening after he was allegedly bullied for his sexual orientation by his teacher.
Mpumi Mbatha comforted by family members as she broke down during her son’s memorial service.
She said that she had hoped her son would survive.
She became emotional at that stage and was unable to continue speaking, so her sister, Khanyisile Shongwe, continued on her behalf.
When they arrived at the clinic, Sibusiso was put in a wheelchair, Shongwe said.
She added:
He gulped, and his mother thought he was returning to us. Unfortunately, that is when he took his last breath. No parent in their right mind thinks they would bury their child. We are shocked as the family.
The incident has angered members of the LGBTQIA+ community.
Activist Nontokozo Khubeka said it was sad that a 12-year-old died because of his chosen sexual orientation.
“We are a rainbow nation. Why are you killing us? What has the LGBQTIA+ community done to you? We don’t rape or kill anyone. All we want is to be loved,” she added.
She said pupils need to be taught about the LGBTQIA+ community.
A teacher promised to invite a representative to the school, saying: “We need you to teach us about your community because we have little knowledge about it.”
Gauteng Education MEC Matome Chiloane appointed an independent law firm to assist the department with its investigation into the suicide.
Chiloane will visit Khehlekile Primary School on Monday.
Sibusiso is expected to be buried on Saturday.