Africa-Press – Eswatini. A day before International Women’s Day, a woman and her daughter died after ingesting a poisonous insecticide chemical last week.
International Women’s Day is a commemorated day celebrated annually on March 8 as a focal point in the women’s rights movement. IWD gives focus to issues such as gender equality, reproductive rights, and violence and abuse against women.
The gruesome discovery is said to have been made last Thursday by a neighbour of the deceased. According to sources close to the matter, the incident occurred at Mbikwakhe, which is one of the densely-populated areas in Matsapha.
The source disclosed that the 37- year-old woman from Velezizweni was living with her 12-year-old daughter in a one-room flat and the reason behind her suicide was still unknown.
However, the source disclosed that before the woman passed on, she called to inform a relative that there was a bag at a nearby bush, which contained certain information she could not disclose at the time.
The source said when the relative tried to enquire as to why she left a bag in a forest, the woman did not give the clear explanation to that effect and said she doubted she would be able to see him again.
“Her death has shocked us in the community, especially because we did not think she would commit such an act. We felt as though she shouldn’t have involved the child in all this,” the source added.
One of the community police members of the area, who preferred anonymity due to the sensitivity of the matter, said the woman was living at her aunt’s home for some time and she did not look like someone who had problems to the point of taking her own life, including her daughter’s.
The community police member divulged that the rate at which people were taking their own lives was alarming in the country, as in the same area, a man committed suicide and was found hanging in his one-room flat.
He said the man was not from the area as he also rented a one-room flat at Mbikwakhe. His death was also discovered days after he committed suicide.
He further discouraged this by urging people to talk with someone they trusted about their problems.
Deputy Chief Police Information and Communications Officer Assistant Superintendent Nosipho Mnguni confirmed the incident to have occurred.
She said the woman was from Velezizweni, Mankayane and the deceased persons are suspected to have ingested a poisonous substance at around 5pm on Thursday.
Just last week, this publication reported about a 14-year-old minor who ingested a poisonous chemical and died.
Occurred
This was after she was chased away from school for owing school fees. The incident occurred at Lanjane, Siphofaneni almost two weeks ago.
The minor was doing Form II at Siphofaneni High School and she is reported to have left a suicide note directed to her grandmother, wherein, she said goodbye to her and further stated she had already taken a decision to end her own life.
She mentioned that the girl, whose heart was obviously filled with anger, hatred and resentment, each time, she was chased away from school for owing school fees, blamed her parents for her calamity.
The relative pointed out that according to her own personal assessment, the girl was propelled by demonic forces, which took advantage of her bitter heart, to commit the heinous act.
Swatini Action Group Against Abuse (SWAGAA) Director Nonhlanhla Dlamini said it was an unfortunate case that the mother opted to end both their lives, but maintained it is never a right decision to commit suicide.
She mentioned that the minor was also killed yet she had her whole life ahead of her.
“Suicide is never the answer, which is why we always emphasise that when people are stressed so much that suicide is an option, they must come seek our services so they can get the help they need. Our services are free of charge,” she said.
Dlamini added that although society was faced with a lot of challenges financially, emotionally and otherwise, people should seek professional help in order to be assisted.
She went on to say that it was a selfish decision to commit suicide, as those who committed these acts were inconsiderate to their loved ones left behind.
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