By: Natasha Archary
A 16-year old Eastern Cape girl ended her life after being bullied for “witchcraft.”
The grade 10 Bisho High School learner who was being taunted by a group of girls drank a pesticide and died on Wednesday, 17 November.
Lathitha Nako was allegedly called a witch by her peers and ridiculed by a teacher for choosing the path as a spiritual healer.
The EC education department will investigate her untimely death further.
Her final words were shared with her friends in WhatsApp voicenotes.
“I’ve been going through so much pain my friend. I can’t believe Avumile and them did this,” Nako is heard saying to her friend in the voice note.
“It is hard to be around people since this thing happened. I can’t even enjoy good moments now. I just suddenly remember this thing. I can’t believe she accused me of witchcraft. She knows I have a gift. I explained it to her. I said I have a gift that makes me do things I do not want to do.”
Nako also suggested that one of her teachers believed the wild accusation of her practicing witchcraft on others.
“People will believe them. There are three of them against me,” she added.
“I am tired of fighting now. I am leaving it all to God.”
Students at Bhisho High School held a gathering in her honour today.
Scenes outside the Bhisho High School, in the EC capital where 16-year-old Grade 10 pupil who is a sangoma initiate Lathitha Nako took her life on Wednesday after she was allegedly shamed by a teacher and peers for choosing the spiritual calling. @TeamNews24 pic.twitter.com/EMY0Rb84In
— Malibongwe Dayimani (@MaliDayimani) November 22, 2021
she took her life because she was bullied at school for being spiritually gifted.💔 https://t.co/Xh9xkagYgi pic.twitter.com/MAilNod4bf
— thimna_m🦋 (@Thimna31) November 20, 2021



