Family, friends, fellow learners, and the entire community of Thathe Vonde village near Phiphidi were left silent from shock and heartbreak, following the tragic death of nine-year-old Uhone Divine Dzhandzhi. Uhone, who was a Grade 4 learner at Tshanowa Primary School, allegedly took his own life on 15 October this year.
The boy's devastated mother, Ms Florence Mukwevho, told the police that she had last seen her son playing under a tree with a rope and warned him not to play with it. She later found him hanging from the tree, with the rope tied around his neck.
According to acting Vhembe police spokesperson Sgt Vuledzani Dathi, the police in Thohoyandou have opened an inquest docket, but no foul play is suspected.
This incident shook the community to the core. A very emotional funeral service was held for Uhone at the village on Saturday, 22 October.
His classmates, dressed in school uniform, paid tribute to him, remembering the charming, cool and collected young boy who was among the top-performing learners in his class. "Forever in our thoughts." "Always in our thoughts." "Thinking of you always." These were some of the messages written on placards by his classmates.
Speaking at the funeral, the circuit manager of Tshinane, Ms Nkhangweleni Mulaudzi, said they were saddened by the untimely passing of the young learner. "It is very upsetting to learn about the death of such a bright young pupil, who still had so much to aspire to," said Mulaudzi.
Mr Nelson Matsea, principal of Tshanowa Primary, also conveyed his deepest sympathy with Uhone's family and described the incident as a tragedy.
Reading the obituary, Adivhaho Dzhandzhi, a close relative of the family, said the late Uhone started pre-school at the local Tshanowa Community Crèche. In 2018, he began his primary schooling as a Grade R learner at Tshanowa Primary, until his death.
She said Uhone's family was very proud of his good grades in school and the boy he was in general. He was always seen helping his parents at his father's spaza shop after school.
Uhone is survived by his father, Mr Vhahangwele Dzhadzhi, mother Ms Florence Mukwevho and two siblings, Atondaho and Ompha Dzhandzhi. He was buried in Mukumbani village.