Bullied gay 14-year-old takes his own life
The bubbly gay teen was bullied at school and in his community (Photos: supplied) A family has been left devastated by the suicide of 14-year-old Mpho Falithenjwa in Orange Farm, South of Johannesburg after he was bullied for being gay. Mpho’s heartbroken sister, Thando, confirmed to MambaOnline that Mpho had taken his own life by poison on the second of June.
She reveals that he left a letter saying his goodbyes to the family and describing how he wanted to be buried. Thando is convinced that Mpho committed suicide as a result of being bullied over his LGBTQ identity.
The teenager proudly described himself as “certified gay” on his Facebook profile. “Yes that was the main reason, and maybe he became scared because people will judge him,” Thando says. “He was bullied and was being called names on the streets.
There was an incident that happened at school where a classmate called him ‘isitabane’ [an anti-gay slur].” In a Facebook profile post on 28 May, Mpho commented, “Def At My Lowest… But I’ll Surely Bounce Back” along with sad and crying emojis.
