The area where the child lived and was found hanged
Image: Supplied
A 12-year-old North Coast boy (12), who was allegedly left alone to take care of his brother (4), was found hanged with his mother’s sari from a rafter at his Riet River home, on Thursday afternoon.
It is alleged that the boy had committed suicide.
A neighbour discovered the boy’s body and found his four-year-old brother in the house.
She then alerted the neighbours.
Prem Balram, head of Reaction Unit South Africa (Rusa) said they were alerted to the tragedy the boy’s frantic neighbours.
He said when they arrived at the home in Neptune Drive, they saw a vehicle speeding off and followed it.
“The vehicle was followed to a local clinic, where the young boy was declared dead on arrival. Residents and neighbours told us that the boy, who is in grade 3 pupil at Parkgate Primary School, had allegedly been left alone to care for his brother.
“It has been alleged that his mother failed to return home two days after she left to attend a prayer.
“The neighbours informed reaction officers that the child was forced to sell glass bottles and he used the money to buy polony to feed his minor sibling.
“The boy was last seen alive earlier this morning when his father left for work,” Balram added.
He said the boy’s father had left the boy alone at home to take care of his brother.
“The boy’s father was emotional. He told us that he spoke to the boy about half an hour before his body was discovered. However, we cannot confirm this,” Balram said.