Spate of suicides in Graaff-Reinet ‘suspicious’

The sudden spate of alleged suicides among young men in Graaff-Reinet has sent shockwaves through the entire community.

Over the course of the past few months at least seven young men have reportedly taken their own lives.

Some suspicious factors

Chairperson of the Graaff-Reinet Community Police Forum (CPF) Anele Ngoyo, believes there is more to the situation than meets the eye.

He says the suicides require thorough police investigation as there are some suspicious factors that may point to murder rather than suicide.

Ngoyo specifically noted that the circumstances surrounding four young men found hanging in Kroonvale on October 2 do not add up.

He elaborated on several uncertainties and said it should be kept in mind that the insurance murder network is extensive and that there may indeed be something sinister behind these deaths.

“In the absence of proper investigation, these alleged suicides may just add to the already lengthy list of cold murder cases in Graaff-Reinet,” Ngoyo says.

Toxic cupcakes

Ngoyo also believes that the suicides may in some way be linked to the recent deaths of two young men who died after eating toxic cupcakes on Tuesday November 19.

Another young man landed in hospital in critical condition after eating a cupcake.

Warrant Officer Majola Nkohli, spokesperson for SAPS in the Sarah Baartman district, confirmed that police opened inquest dockets to investigate the cause of the two victim’s deaths and that the circumstances surrounding the incident are part of the investigation.

The two victims have been identified as Deon Hans (35) and Sipho Sweli (34) but, according to Nkohli, the identity of the surviving young man, who has since been stabilised and transferred back from Gqeberha to the Midland Hospital in Graaff-Reinet, will not be released while he is still recovering in hospital.

Unite in prayer

In response to the suicides, Mary Cooper-Reed, a spiritual leader from the Cornerstone of Truth Ministries in Gouwsblom Street, Asherville, called upon the community to come together in prayer.

Cooper-Reed believes that the suicides can only be stopped through fasting and prayer.

“As the spiritual intercessors for Graaff-Reinet, we are called upon to fast and pray and to then unite as one and dedicate Graaff-Reinet to God,” she said after the body of a young man was found at the Fred Hufkie Cricket Stadium in Kroonvale in November.