The 23-year-old man who had been arrested and released following the death of 17-year-old Amanda Lethukuthula Masango has been found dead.

The man, whose identity has not yet been released, was found hanging from the roof in a house in Pienaar at about 20:00 last night, April 1.

A provincial police spokesperson, Lieutenant Colonel Jabu Ndubane, said the preliminary investigation showed that the man might have committed suicide. “The family members alleged that they found him hanging from a rope around his neck and they had to cut him down,” said Ndubane.

The police have opened an inquest case regarding this incident.

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The man was arrested following the discovery of Masango body in a house in KaNyamazane on March 14, after she had left home to catch a bus to school that morning and disappeared. She was a Grade 12 learner at the Lowveld High School in Mbombela.

He was later released due to lack of evidence that could link him to the crime.

At the time the police had received a call from this man who directed them to the room in which Masango’s body had been found with a rope around her neck and another piece tied to the roof.

The suspect claimed he knew nothing about how the girl died and said it was his brother’s room.

Ndubane said the circumstances surrounding the Masango’s death are still under investigation.