The life of a young schoolboy, full of future dreams, reached a sad end when his motionless body was found hanging from an avocado tree at his home on Friday afternoon. Amazingly, the dead boy’s feet were resting on the ground and he had blood on his mouth, right hand and feet.

At the time of going to press, it was not exactly clear what had happened to the boy, as police were still investigating his mysterious death. Confidence Mmeregi (16) of Tshilapfene was a Grade 9 learner at the local Muelekanyi High School.

Shocked community members watched the body in disbelief as it was hanging from a white-and-blue-coloured rope before the police and undertakers arrived at the scene.

The boy’s mother, Aida, made the horrific discovery when she wanted to pick up some avocado fruits on Friday. "Aida went to assist in the wedding of a relative and she slept there on Thursday evening. She left the boy sleeping with his father, Phungoyavho. It is said that his father also went to the wedding on Friday morning and allegedly left the boy at home. After the wedding, Aida went home to pick the avocadoes for relatives and she was greeted by the shocking sight," said a source close to the family.

The source said the deceased boy looked happy and there was no sign that he had problems. "He was always charming and smiling. We are still baffled by his death, but we hope that the truth will finally come out about what happened."

Supt. Ailwei Mushavhanamadi of the Limpopo police confirmed that police have opened an inquest docket after the boy’s mysterious death.