Pretoria businessman hangs himself

Jabu Machika, 35, from Soshanguve, had been running a bricklaying business and was apparently suffering financial difficulties, Rekord North reported.

Police spokesperson Sergeant Thembi Nowathe said two men herding cattle in an open veld found his body in a tree at about 10am on Sunday and alerted police.

“The man lived in section P in Soshanguve. No one knows exactly what transpired, but an inquest docket has been opened. We are investigating the matter,” Nowathe said.

Nowathe said the deceased’s vehicle was found parked near the school.

“All his belongings were still in the car,” Nowathe said.

Nowathe said family members were traced and informed.

“The family members are devastated about the incident. They told police the victim was under a lot of stress and had told them he had run into heavy financial problems,” Nowathe said.

“It’s sad that people feel they don’t have any other option. If they need help, they can ask, people will help them. This can’t be the answer.”

In May, a 16-year-old boy’s body was found hanging from a tree at St Stithians College in Bryanston, north of Johannesburg.

St Stithians rector Tim Nuttall said an early-morning walker near the dams on the grounds of the school discovered the body. “Our staff and the police responded quickly, and the body was taken away to the mortuary,” he said.

The South African Depression and Anxiety Group suicide hotline is operational 24 hours a day: 0800-567-567.

– Caxton News Service