KEETMANSHOOP - //Kharas governor Aletha Frederick on Wednesday paid a courtesy visit to console the bereaved family of 11-year-old Michael Boois, who committed suicide late last week as an alleged result of bullying at a primary school in this southern town.

“For us as parents, it is quite disheartening to lose our children at such a young age when we have such high expectations for them to become productive citizens one day and look after us,” she said empathetically to the mother of the deceased learner. 

Frederick added that the tragic death of Michael, who left behind his twin brother, indeed shocked not only his family, but the entire community of Keetmanshoop.

“Importantly, however, it is the duty of the family and community to support the surviving sibling, who I believe will struggle to come to terms and make peace with the death of his twin brother,” she said. Frederick, in light of the cause of the fatal incident, called on all parents to always make time and listen to their children’s problems and concerns, no matter how small. 

“Similar tragedies can be prevented if us as parents give more attention to our kids’ lifestyles and behavioural patterns in future,” she advised the mourners present. 

According to a  source present,  the boy went to school last week to collect his quarterly progress report, where boys with masks on grabbed it from him and tore it as well as his shirt. The source continued that after arriving at home, the boy and his aunt went back to the school, where a duplicate report was issued to the victim. He then went home, and hanged himself with a rope in the bathroom.  

The family of the deceased requested not to comment at this stage.