A year since Centurion’s suicide tragedy
Though a year later, the De Witt family is still in distress of the tragic suicide of their teenager daughter, Caitlin.
Saturday would mark a year since tragedy struck Amberfield Glen, Centurion, when 14-year-old Catelin de Witt shot and killed herself in the neighbourhood park.
On 15 August last year, the grade 8 Eldoraigne Hoërskool pupil allegedly used her father’s gun to shoot herself on the park bench next to her 11-year-old autistic brother.
Neighbours said they heard two gun shots.
“I went to the scene and the people told me that a 14-year-old girl committed suicide. It happened in the park itself, in the corner on a bench where she was apparently sitting with her brother. The guy who lives in that same corner said he heard two gun shots. It was as if she was trying to see if the gun was working. When he heard the second shot, he saw her fall from the beach,” an anonymous resident had told Rekord shortly after the incident.
Catelin’s death gripped the community with messages of condolences pouring in on social media.
Flower Market, a florist at Mall@Reds even sold white flowers at discounted rates for those who wanted to show support to the family.
Her father Okker de Witt told Rekord on Friday the family was still feeling deep distress.
“We’re taking it hard. We take every day as it comes. My son has his ups and downs but some days he is okay as well,” he said.
Okker said the family would be spending the day together in her remembrance.
On Wednesday, 13-year-old girl Klara Göttert fell to her death at Northgate Mall shortly after her mother took to Facebook to report her missing.
Police are investigating an inquest, however, her mother Liesl provided conflicting information on whether the death was a suicide or not.
According to the SA Depression and Anxiety Group (Sadag), the suicide rate for children aged 10-14 years old had more than doubled over the last fifteen years.
Hanging was the most frequently used method of suicide among teens in South Africa, followed by shooting, gasing and burning.
Sadag said teens were likely to be more impulsive when dealing with suicidal thoughts or behaviours and that research showed that more female teens commit suicide than males.
“Risk factors for suicide among the young include the presence of mental illness – especially depression, conduct disorder, alcohol and drug abuse, previous suicide attempts, and the availability of firearms in the home. In South Africa, 60% of people who commit suicide are depressed.”
Sadag’s suicide crisis line can be reached by calling 0800 567 567 or sending an SMS to 31393.
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