Schoolgirl 'hangs herself over cheating boyfriend'

17-year-old schoolgirl Jabulile Myeni, also known as Qalo, was found hanged at her home on Tuesday.

The grade 9 pupil at Namaneni High in Ndumo area, SA, apparently suspected that her boyfriend was cheating.

According to Thandazile Madonsela (30), her cousin, Qalo's boyfriend told her that he was going to visit his relatives, but she later found out her man was at home with another woman.

"When my cousin called her boyfriend, the phone was answered by a woman," said Thandazile.

"The woman was very rude to her. Apparently, she told my cousin to leave her and her man alone."

Thandazile said Qalo confronted her lover but he showed no remorse.

"Qalo came to me crying. It was very painful. I tried to comfort her and told her everything was going to be fine. The last time I spoke to her was when she asked for money to call her boyfriend from the nearby public phone.

"Qalo was a quiet girl who respected the elders," Thandazile said.

She said the family has not spoken to the boyfriend's family since Qalo died.

Qalo's boyfriend said: "Yes, I do have another woman and Qalo knew about her. "And yes, I let her answer my phone when Qalo called.

"The problem with Qalo is that she did not want me to go and look for a job.

"Whenever I told that I was going to look for a job, she would cry and threaten to kill herself," said the boyfriend, who refused to be named.

He said Qalo had told him she was going to kill herself on Tuesday.

"I even called her sisters, asking them to beg her not to do what she said she was going to do. I am hurt because I loved her so much," he said

Captain Thulani Zwane confirmed the incident.

"A 17-year-old was found hanging in her home. The motive is not known at this stage. We have opened an inquest docket," said Zwane.