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The recent heartbreaking incident in Butterworth, Eastern Cape, in which a woman took her own life and those of her three children underscores a grim reality that has been haunting our society – an alarming rise in cases where individuals resort to suicide and even murder in the face of unbearable mental health challenges and the crushing weight of poverty.
The devastating actions of Bongeka Buso, a 38-year-old mother, left the nation in shock, prompting us to question the factors driving individuals to such measures.
It is a troubling trend that we’ve seen more frequently in recent times and it demands our collective attention.
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Our society only displays compassion and kindness in the aftermath of these tragedies, mourning the departed, while neglecting the struggles of the living.
We are quick to pass judgement on those battling mental illness, failing to recognise the immense hardships of living without the means to provide for one’s family.
Solidarity, empathy and understanding should form the bedrock of our national spirit, especially since many among us have experienced harsh realities at some point.
As Benjamin Pogrund eloquently states in his book, How Can Man Die Better: The Life and Times of Robert Mangaliso Sobukwe:
Poverty, indeed, can be a source of deep humiliation, one that many endure while simply trying to survive.
I recall my own experience as a first-year student at Vista University in Mamelodi, when I had to call my mother for money to buy books and supplies.
Deep down, I knew she could hardly afford it.
Her meagre wages as a domestic worker could barely even cover our monthly food expenses.
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During that phone call, she reminded me of the privilege of education, but the call itself was a painful reminder of our financial constraints. I could not even afford to pay for the call and had to leave my shoes as collateral, walking home barefoot – a humiliating moment etched in my memory.
There are countless individuals who face such degradation daily, some of whom tragically choose to end their own lives and those of their loved ones, perhaps as a misguided attempt to escape the burden of survival. Others hold on, resilient in the face of adversity.
It is our collective responsibility, regardless of our station in life, to strive to make the lives of those less fortunate better.
We must contribute to making life worth living for everyone, addressing the central question that should haunt our conscience daily: How can individuals live free from the shackles of poverty?
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Many individuals carry suicide notes in their pockets, silent cries for help. It is our duty to ensure that they never feel compelled to use them.
The tragic incident in Butterworth reminds us of the poignant words of world-famous photojournalist Kevin Carter, who took his own life, leaving behind this haunting message:
In our interactions with others, may we strive to be more compassionate, more understanding and more supportive. Let us recognise the silent struggles of those around us and work together to build a society where despair is replaced with hope and every individual can live and die in dignity.
It is only through our collective efforts that we can do this.
Hatang is the executive director of Re Hata Mmoho
