A family in Etwatwa, Gauteng, is mourning the heartbreaking loss of 17-year-old Precious “Cucu” Ndlovu, who allegedly took her own life after enduring repeated humiliation and bullying at school because she was a teenage mother.
According to reports, Precious, a pupil at Phandimfundo Secondary School, had allegedly been targeted by a teacher who frequently mocked and embarrassed her in front of classmates. The tragic incident has sparked outrage in the community, with many calling for accountability and better protection for vulnerable learners.
Precious leaves behind a seven-month-old baby daughter and a devastated family searching for answers.
Her mother, Buyiswa Ndlovu, said the teenager spent her final hours emotional and withdrawn, listening to sad music before finally opening up about the alleged abuse she was experiencing at school. According to the family, Precious claimed the teacher constantly blamed her for problems in class, insulted her for becoming a mother at a young age, and even questioned whether the classroom was a “maternity ward.”
The grieving mother revealed that during their final drive together, her daughter said words that will forever haunt her.
“She told me, ‘Mama, you failed me,’” Buyiswa reportedly said.
When she asked what she meant, Precious allegedly explained that she felt forced to attend a school where she was being bullied and humiliated daily. The mother said it was the first time her daughter had spoken openly about the alleged mistreatment.
Buyiswa said she believed her daughter simply did not want to attend school and had planned to raise the concerns with school management later. Tragically, she never got the chance.
Shortly after dropping Precious off at her grandmother’s house, the family received a distressing call saying the teenager had collapsed. Her aunt, Pretty Makhubo, said Precious reportedly ran into the yard complaining that she felt hot before collapsing and foaming at the mouth.
Family members suspected she had consumed poison and rushed her to a nearby clinic, but she was declared dead on arrival.
The heartbreaking incident has triggered widespread anger on social media, where many people questioned how a learner could allegedly suffer such treatment from an educator. Others called for schools to take mental health, bullying and emotional abuse more seriously.
The tragedy also highlights growing concerns around bullying in South African schools. Similar incidents in recent years have led to investigations by human rights organisations and renewed discussions about learner safety and emotional wellbeing in educational institutions.
Community members and online users have since shared messages of support for the Ndlovu family while demanding justice for Precious.
The family says they now want a full investigation into the circumstances surrounding the teenager’s death and the allegations against the teacher. They hope no other child will suffer in silence the way Precious allegedly did.
As tributes continue to pour in, many South Africans are reflecting on the importance of compassion, emotional support and protecting young people from humiliation and abuse in schools.
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