Kamogelo Olaitan
A 15-year-old sangoma from Ndwedwe in KwaZulu-Natal who was once kicked out of her school for several weeks because of her traditional attire has committed suicide.
In an interview with 1KZN News two weeks ago the learner said the school demanded that she either stop wearing her ibhayi, an ancestral spirit shawl, or hide it under her uniform. When she told the principal that made her sick she was suspended.
She was only let back to school a few weeks ago after the Education Department intervened.
On Tuesday the provincial Education Department said it was saddened by the news of the death of the learner from Nombika High in the iLembe district.
“The deceased was recently in the news because of the problem she had with the school regarding her traditional rituals.
“The department intervened and she was back at the school, being taught like all others and she was able to write all her June examinations,” the department said in a statement.
The department further said it has not established what led to her taking her own life, adding that a team from the iLembe district was sent to her family to establish the circumstances around her death.
Video source: @1KZNTVNews
