Aletta Shikololo

A 14-year-old boy reportedly committed suicide on Tuesday by shooting himself with a firearm after allegedly quarrelling with one of his parents. According to police spokesperson Kauna Shikwambi, the incident took place in Otjomuise Extension 4 around 18h00.

“The incident happened after an argument with one of the parents and the firearm used is reported to be his father’s. The investigation is launched to determine what really transpired and to find out whether the firearm used is registered and so forth,” said Shikwambi.

According to a source close to the family, the boy is a Grade 9 learner at Hochland High School in Windhoek. “Learners were briefed at the assembly yesterday about the sad news and they were later released to go home,” confirmed the source.  Approached for a comment, the principal of Hochland High School, Ndamona Nehoya said that it was not school procedure to comment.

Attempts to get a comment from Sanet Steenkamp, the executive director of the ministry of education proved futile as her telephone went unanswered.  Shikwambi highlighted that most minors commit suicide due to societal issues and there is a need for psychological experts’ intervention “In this recent case, maybe the child got angry and decided to commit suicide. In the contemporary world that we live in and the way that our children are brought up has maybe not toughened them up to be scolded or be disciplined. We have cases where learners threatened to commit suicide because they have failed the examination and sometimes such things really happen,” she said.

Shikwambi urged parents to be careful about how they speak to children as they have become sensitive. “Children nowadays have gadgets where they google so much information and perhaps that is also where they learn how to deal with certain situations, which leads them to commit suicide. Maybe there is also a need for psychological support where experts can speak some sense into them,” she commented. 

-ashikololo@nepc.com.na