Domestic worker hangs self 'for evil deeds'

A domestic worker from Bulilima allegedly committed suicide by hanging using a wire in his bedroom hut. Peter Veleni Ncube, 32, left a note stating that he had killed himself because of his "evil deeds".

Local traditional leader, Chief Mpini, said the incident occurred in Thekwane area on Tuesday. He said he was still to be furnished with the full details on what transpired. Chief Mpini said Ncube was buried on Wednesday at his homestead.

The councillor for the area, Sylvester Nkomo, said Ncube was employed as a domestic worker in Plumtree.

He said he committed suicide while his wife and children were away.

Clr Nkomo said Ncube's body was discovered by neighbours who had been searching for him after his family had reported him missing.

"Ncube left his workplace on Monday afternoon to deliver some building material at his homestead in Thekwane area. He left his wife behind and was expected to return to work on the same day but he didn't.

"His wife tried to contact him on his cellphone several times but there was no response. She called some neighbours on Tuesday morning inquiring about the whereabouts of her husband and they indicated that they had last seen him arriving with some building material," said Clr Nkomo.

He said some neighbours proceeded to the homestead and found all doors locked.

Clr Nkomo said they heard a cellphone ringing from Ncube's bedroom hut.

He said the neighbours peeped through a window and saw Ncube hanging from the roof. He said the man had used a wire to hang himself. "The neighbour forced the door open and they found a note which Ncube had written on a tissue paper where he stated that he had decided to commit suicide because of the evil deeds he had done. It appeared that Ncube used a chair to climb to the roof and then kicked it away because there was a chair lying on the floor. The police were called to the scene," he said.

The village head of the area, Mahogo Nkomo, said the "evil deeds" which Ncube had referred to as the cause of his death remained a mystery as his family was not aware of them.

Matabeleland South acting provincial police spokesperson, Sergeant Thabani Mkhwananzi, said he had not received a report on the matter. He said he would make a follow up on the incident.