A series of teenage suicides has raised concern among communities in the Vhembe region, highlighting the growing need for support for young people facing emotional and social challenges.
The latest incidents involve two teenage girls who died last week — a 17-year-old from Tshitavha outside Thohoyandou and a 12-year-old from Vhulaudzi outside Nzhelele. Both are believed to have died by suicide.
The cases follow a troubling pattern in the region. In September 2025, two teenage best friends, aged 13 and 14, from Lwamondo village died in a double suicide tragedy. One reportedly took her own life after being reprimanded by her mother, while the other died the following day after expressing deep distress over her friend's death.
In the most recent incidents, the police in Vhulaudzi opened an inquest docket after a 12-year-old girl was found hanging in her room at Vuvha Hamagwada on Wednesday, 10 December, at around 21:00.
Vhembe SAPS spokesperson W/O Vuledzani Dathi confirmed the inquest.
"Preliminary investigations revealed that the girl just went to her room and when her mother checked on her after a few hours, found her hanging in her room. She was rushed to the local hospital, where she was pronounced deceased on arrival. The learner did not show any sign of problems as she even passed her exams. This has left questions as to what could have been the cause. Her body was scrutinised and no foul play is suspected. The deceased has been identified as Vhaakona Madilonga," he said.
Dathi also confirmed a second incident, in which the Makuya police opened an inquest after the death of a 17-year-old girl from Tshitavha, identified as Orilwela Nndanduleni.
"The girl was found hanging in her room. She was rushed to the hospital, where she was pronounced dead on arrival. The incident happened on Wednesday, 10 December. Preliminary investigations revealed that, on the same day, the deceased and her mother went to her school to collect her progress report, only to find that she had failed. On arrival at home, the girl went inside her room, and when her mother later checked on her, she found her hanging from the roof, having used her school uniform belt. We are busy investigating the two incidents," he said.