Zimbabwean throws huge suicide party then cremates...

Zimbabwean throws huge suicide party then cremates himself in SA

*Remains of the structure in which 24-year old Zimbabwean burnt himself to death. Image by* RUSA

Reports from Thandanani, Verulam, South Africa say that a 24-year old Zimbabwean male committed suicide by locking himself in then setting his house on fire.

Burnt remains of the tiling contractor were recovered early Saturday morning by a private security company that responded to calls from neighbours when the fire blazed up.

The security company spokesperson says the deceased’s girlfriend said that he told her that he intended to kill himself shortly before the incident.

“He informed her that he loved her and asked her to leave as he intended on ending his life. He then forced her out of the residence and locked the door. The informal home thereafter burst into flames,” said Prem Balram of Reaction Unit South Africa (RUSA).

Balram says that the witnesses heard the deceased screaming before the makeshift home collapsed.

“The deceased could be heard screaming for several minutes before the structure collapsed. The motive for the suicide was not immediately established,” said Balram.

The deceased is said to have procured large amounts of meat and alcohol for the party to which he invited community members on Friday afternoon.

Police have not yet issued a statement. Zim Now has been unable to establish if next of kin have been informed and is therefore withholding identity of deceased.

This tragedy comes less than a week after Zimbabwean businessman popularly known as Vlad Duk also committed suicide in South Africa.

Cases of men committing suicide have become topical in the past few weeks with many social media users blaming society for creating the perception that men who admit to being overwhelmed are weak.