14-year-old Grade 8 learner dies by suicide after alleged cyberbullying on Facebook in Eastern Cape
Summary
A 14-year-old Grade 8 learner from Kariega in the Eastern Cape died by suicide on Tuesday, 13 May, after being found hanging at her family home in the Moegesukkel informal settlement. Her father discovered her and rushed her to Kariega Provincial Hospital, where she was pronounced dead shortly after arrival. Social media users have alleged that she was subjected to cyberbullying on Facebook in the days leading up to her death, sharing posts that suggest she was ridiculed. Police confirmed the incident and opened an inquest docket, but have not verified the cyberbullying claims or linked them to her suicide. The girl, identified as Shemeeque Davis, was a student at Uitenhage High School, which issued a statement expressing grief and condolences to her family and community.
Incident Details
Content or interactions that contribute to self-harm, suicidal ideation, or eating disorders.
Content or contact linked to suicidal ideation, attempts, or completion.
Sources
1This incident is documented by a single source. Source count reflects coverage in our monitored feeds, not the totality of reporting, and we do not evaluate publication quality.