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MISSING GIRL’S DAD KILLS HIMSELF

01/06/2018 06:34:00 BY SIBUSISO SHANGE

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HHOLOSHINI- While the search for an eight-year-old missing child continues at Hholoshini, her father has ended his life.

Bongani Kunene was confirmed dead at the Mbabane Government Hospital, after ingesting the deadly weevil tablet while at his homestead on Wednesday afternoon.
The Kunene family confirmed the incident. According to Bongani’s brother, Solomon, the family tried to save Bongani’s life but it was too late, as the poison had already done the damage.
Noteworthy was that Bongani ended his life seven days after his daughter, Phiwayinkhosi Kunene disappeared.

Solomon said the family was still shocked after Bongani’s decision to end his life while they were still worried about the disappearance of the child.
He revealed that before committing suicide, Bongani had a lengthy conversation with the Head teacher of Phakamani Primary School, where he was the chairman of the school committee.
Solomon alleged that his brother requested the head teacher to bury his daughter should she be found.

“The head teacher shared that Bongani requested him to bury his daughter. Nobody knows what Bongani meant by the request,” alleged Solomon.
Location
Solomon further alleged that his brother stated during the conversation with the head teacher that he would go to an unidentified place, without being specific about its location.
He said the statement left the family with the impression that Bongani wanted to kill himself in the wilderness.

When called for verification of the conversation he had with Bongani, the head teacher of the school, who only identified himself as Shongwe, confirmed talking to Bongani.
Shongwe revealed that Bongani requested the school to continue with the search of his child as she was part of the institution.

“He stressed that even if his daughter was found dead, the school should contribute towards her burial,” Shongwe said.
The head teacher revealed that Bongani, who had been at the school to discuss administration issues, called him prior to the commission of the suicide.
“He was too brief before he hung up,” Shongwe said. About 12 teachers from the school went to his homestead to convey their condolences yesterday.

However, Bongani’s wife, Thobile Hlophe (30), said her husband, who was a polygamist, left her in the house and proceeded to his other homestead where he eventually ended his life.
“I was still in the house when they informed me that Kunene had ingested a weevil tablet while at his other homestead. He told those who were with him that a full explanation concerning his decision was under the bed,” she said.
When his relatives looked under the bed, Hlophe said they discovered a suicide note which was taken by the police to assist in their investigations.

It appeared that the police also took Bongani’s cellphone for further investigations.
When asked about the content of the suicide note, Hlophe revealed that her husband stated that he was stressed about the disappearance of the child, among other things. Bongani had four children with Hlophe.

Prophets

When interviewed on Monday, Bongani stated that he was stressed about the disappearance of his daughter, to the extent that he engaged prophets in a bid to locate her, to no avail.
“Sesilandze ngisho nebabholofidi kepha kunekutsi basisite bakhuluma intfo lengavakali, bacabanisa umndeni,” he said in vernacular, loosely translated: “We have engaged prophets but instead of helping us they are confusing the family.” When asked about the engagement of the prophets, some members of the family denied knowledge of same.

They stated that Bongani was used to doing things without involving the family.
Solomon also revealed that Bongani ended his life after meeting his in-laws concerning the disappearance of the child.
He said it was agreed during the meeting that Bongani would join his in-laws to consult either traditional healers or prophets in a bid to find the missing child.

Awu! Kutsenkinkinini ngoba besetsembe kutsi babetala wakhe utamtsatsa lamuhla sebayokuva kutsi ngabe kwentekeni kulomntfwana,” said Solomon in vernacular loosely translated; “We are so disappointed because we were hoping that Bongani would join his father-in-law to consult either traditional healers or a prophet today.”