Desperate Eastern Cape mom kills starving children and hangs herself

A debt collector looking for repayment on a loan from a desperate mother in Butterworth, Eastern Cape, found the bodies of the mother and her three children in their home at 7am on Sunday.

In a suicide note that is understood to have been retrieved by the police, the mother, known in the area as a quiet introvert, said she had become overwhelmed by her burdens.

Police spokesperson Colonel Priscilla Naidu said Bongeka Buso (38) was found hanging from a rope in her rondavel. Two of her children, Orabile Buso (8) and Oratile Buso (5) were found dead on the bed. It is alleged that Buso took the last of the family’s food and mixed it with Rattex to poison her smaller children.

Her other child, Anathi Buso, understood to be about 14 years old, was found lying on the floor next to the bed with a knife in her neck. Community members said it looked as if she’d been trying to stop her mother from poisoning the two small children, and there had been a physical altercation. She was found in a pool of blood.

“It is suspected that the two younger children were poisoned. The motive for the deaths is not known; however, it is suspected that it could be driven by poverty,” Naidu said.

She said there would be an inquest and three murder dockets had been opened.

Read more in Daily Maverick: Eastern Cape case of Buso family tragedy was ‘murder and death by hunger’

Eastern Cape Police Commissioner Lieutenant-General Nomthetheleli Mene expressed her sadness and concern.

“It is a deeply concerning and heartbreaking issue that women facing poverty can be driven to such despair. Socioeconomic challenges can exacerbate their vulnerability to mental health issues. Addressing poverty and promoting mental health support is crucial to prevent such tragedies. As we commemorate Women’s Month, I urge women to raise their voices and speak out. It is crucial to address concerns promptly rather than waiting until they become more difficult to resolve,” Mene said.

Bongeka’s uncle Mkhululi Buso said the family was still in shock. 

“The young children were receiving grant money, but we think that she was under pressure and struggling to pay some of her debts because they were starving sometimes,” he said, “but as I said we don’t know what exactly happened.”

He said he wished she had shared her problems with them before deciding to take her own life and the lives of her children.

Mkhululi confirmed that two of the children had been poisoned and a third was stabbed.

Bongeka’s neighbour Nomthandazo Maboko said she still could not believe what she’d seen inside the rondavel. Maboko said after the debt collector called for help, she immediately ran to the rondavel.

“My first concern was for the safety of the children,” she said.

“When I pushed open the door, I saw her hanging and I looked around. I found the one child dead and saw the other two were also dead and their stomachs were swollen. I tried to wake them up but it was late,” Maboko said.

She said the worst moment was finding the teenager with her face in her own blood.

“Even though we don’t know exactly what happened or what led to this incident, Bongeka had a lot of debt and they were struggling for a long time,” Maboko said.

“Sometimes she was asking for food from neighbours just so they can have something to eat.”

“We have a lot of people who are starving in Butterworth,” Maboko added.

Skyrocketing malnutrition

‘Food is an immediate need’