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The word suicide written using paper pieces.
The parents of a 12-year-old boy who allegedly died by suicide at his home in the Riet River area in Verulam, north of Durban, have denied claims that the child was neglected.
Shivaan Cumberledge died last week, with neighbours alleging that he had been left alone with his four-year-old sibling at the time of the incident.
It is alleged that his father was away at a temporary job while his mother had travelled to visit relatives for a two-day funeral prayer with the boy’s two younger siblings.
Speaking about the incident, the boy’s parents, Sheldon Cumberledge and Leanne Govindsamy, rejected the allegations, saying they love and care deeply for their children.
Meanwhile, Adeshni Naicker from Childline in KwaZulu-Natal says the learner’s death has sparked discussion around children’s mental health and emotional wellbeing, especially during this Child Protection Month.
“Children are already overwhelmed and being burdened with added domestic responsibilities only aggravates the situation. There are also many factors that contribute to suicide ideation. The number of calls that we have been getting over the past few years has increased, and this is mainly due to teenagers, battling self-esteem issues, different forms of bullying, and the pressure of trying to meet high academic expectations often set by parents.”
-Report by Gcinokuhle Malinga
