The Sunday News
Sukulwenkosi Dube Plumtree Correspondent
A TEENAGE mum who killed her seven-month-old baby before trying to kill herself by drinking termite poison has died after a six-day stay at Plumtree District Hospital. Thokozile Dube (18) of Guqukani Village in Tshitshi area passed away on Sunday last week around 7am. Chief Tshitshi who is Dube’s grandfather confirmed her death.
He said the baby — Conwell Mhlanga — was buried on 20 February at his father’s homestead while Dube was buried on Wednesday at her grandparents’ homestead.
Dube first fed her baby with the termite poison before drinking it herself following a misunderstanding with her lover, Kidiboni Mhlanga.
“My granddaughter failed to make it as she passed away yesterday morning at Plumtree District Hospital where she was admitted for almost a week.
“Since she was admitted to the hospital her condition did not improve at all as she kept deteriorating by the day.
“It was very difficult to chat with her when she was at the hospital because she could hardy speak. We laid her to rest at her grandparent’s homestead,” said Chief Tshitshi.
He said they were yet to engage his granddaughter’s boyfriend over her death to find out what had transpired as Dube had blamed him for the unfortunate incident.
He said his granddaughter left a suicide note where she pointed out that she was having problems with her lover.
Dube could hardly speak or eat during the period that she was admitted to the hospital. She spent her six day stay at the hospital lying down as she could not sit up due to stomach pains.
Matabeleland South provincial police spokesperson Inspector Philani Ndebele confirmed Dube’s death.
He said Dube died as a result of the poisonous substance which she drank.
Dube killed her baby and then attempted suicide while at her grandparents’ homestead as her boyfriend who was involved with several women was allegedly abusing her.
During her stay at the hospital she revealed that her lover’s violent tendencies had compelled her to end her life and that of her baby as he had threatened to kill her after she called an end to their relationship.
On the day of the incident Dube took termite poison which was stored at her grandparents’ homestead and fed it to her baby who wriggled in pain before her until he died. She also consumed the poison but her plans of suicide had initially failed as her grandparents who came to her rescue rushed her to hospital.
