The body of 17-year-old Lethukuthula Amanda Masango was discovered in a backroom in Ext 16, KaNyamazane, Mpumalanga, on Friday.

Mpumalanga News reports that following the discovery, a 23-year-old man was arrested in connection with her death. However, according to provincial police spokesperson Lieutenant Colonel Jabu Ndubane, he was released on Monday.

A bright future

Lethukuthula was a Grade 12 learner at Lowveld High School.

Ndubane says the victim’s family last saw her early on Friday morning when she left to catch a bus to school. The exact events that followed remain unclear.

“At around 17:30, the police received a call from a member of the public in Ext 16. On their arrival, they found the 23-year-old man who had made the call. He directed the officers to a backroom where the victim’s body was discovered. The man told the officers the room belongs to his brother and that he did not know anything about what had happened. The victim was still wearing her school uniform, and her body was covered with a duvet cover. There was a rope around her neck and another piece was hanging from the roof,” she explains.

Investigation continues

Ndubane says the circumstances surrounding the victim’s death are still under investigation. The man who had been arrested was expected to appear in the KaNyamazane District Court on Monday. However, later that night, police confirmed he had been released.

“The case was not enrolled in court, and the man was released pending further investigation,” adds Ndubane.

Family mourns

Nomaswazi Masina, the victim’s mother, says her daughter’s death has left her heartbroken.

“I am going to miss her presence in the house. I never expected this to happen.”

Masina adds there were many things she loved about her daughter.

“Lethu was a bubbly person and a respectful child. I was happy that she was always at home and focused on her studies. She was a bookworm. People on the outside assumed she was an introvert because she spent most of her time indoors. This made me believe that she was safe.”

Lethu’s dream was to study medicine.

“Her schoolwork was going well, and she had a bright future. I was talking to her on Wednesday, and she showed me her math results. She did very well. I even told her how proud I am. She said she wanted to study at the University of North West.”

Masina urges the community to allow the family to grieve in peace. She also calls for vigilance in addressing gender-based violence and femicide (GBVF).

“When they see any signs that a person is not in a good state or if they can see that a person could be abusing another, they should do something. The community must be aware of GBVF; they must look out for the signs and red flags.”

Call for action against GBVF

Sipho Zitha of the SA Men First Foundation says GBVF activists in the province share the family’s pain.

“We condemn the barbaric act with the contempt it deserves. We are equally devastated that a young lady, whose academic performance was so good that the school principal was certain her dreams of becoming a medical practitioner would be realised, died. I would like to express our sincere sympathy and condolences to the family. We promise to support them until the matter is finalised in court. We are deeply sorry that as men we have failed the family and this young girl. We further commit to advocating for more resources to create awareness about GBVF,” adds Zitha.

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