A young thief who was found guilty of stealing from Pep Stores in Makhado (Louis Trichardt) tried to commit suicide twice while in police custody, but both attempts were foiled by police officers.

Sandra Hleku Nkuna (20) was sentenced to a fine of R800 or one month imprisonment for theft on Tuesday, February 20, after being found guilty on a theft charge against her. She could not, however, pay the R800 and remained in police custody, until she could be transferred to prison.

It is said that Nkuna, being a young mother, wanted her small child to go with her to the Mapatshe Prison in Thohoyandou, which can accommodate both male and female prisoners. Nkuna’s relatives, however, did not want to allow this. This apparently devastated the young mother and she tried to hang herself with a zipper in the police cells while waiting to be transferred to prison. Fortunately, police officers spotted her and stopped her from killing herself.

Following the suicide attempt, Nkuna was rushed to the Louis Trichardt Memorial Hospital where she was admitted for treatment. After a couple of days, however, she managed to escape and returned home to be with her child. Once she was at home, relatives told her that the police were looking for her, after which she left her child with the relatives and ran away. Thinking that she was safe from the police, she later returned, only to be apprehended by her relatives and handed to the police.

Nkuna was charged with escaping from lawful custody. Fearing that she might try and commit suicide again, her hands were tied while waiting in the police cells before her court appearance. She appeared in court with her hands untied and was found guilty of escaping from lawful custody. For this she was sentenced to 12 months’ direct imprisonment. After being convicted, she was taken back to the police cells, her hands still untied.

Later the same day, Nkuna managed to hang herself again. Again police officers rushed in and prevented her from taking her own life. She managed to hang herself with a T-shirt she was wearing.