The 16-year-old Musa Tshabalala, who was a learner at the East Bank High School, will finally be laid to rest this Saturday after different businesspeople offered to help her family financially. Musa committed suicide over two weeks ago when she did not get more answers after learning that she was conceived through rape. It is alleged that she took rat poison.

BUSINESSPEOPLE TO THE RESCUE

Various businesspeople, including well know businessman BI Phakathi, donated money towards Musa's burial and one catering company offered their services on the day of the burial. ZiMoja reported that Musa committed suicide on 17 April and her 78-year-old grandmother has been struggling to bury her because she had no money. Musa's cousin, Buyisile Tshabalala, said that Musa will finally be laid to rest, all thanks to businesspeople who offered to assist after reading the story on ZiMoja.

"We are grateful that Musa will be laid to rest. We were contacted by several people who offered to assist the family bury Musa after the story was published. They have paid the funeral parlour and have offered their services. The catering company from here in Alexandra also offered their help," Buyisile said. She added that as much as it is painful to go through this, they are happy now that Musa's grandmother can sleep knowing she has given her grandchild a dignified funeral. "Not being able to afford to bury Musa was killing her. She did not know where to start as there is no one working at home, she cried every day."

APPARENT SUICIDE 

Buyisile told ZiMoja that Musa committed suicide after she discovered that she was conceived through rape. "Musa was conceived through rape when her mother was just 12-years old. After she gave birth to Musa, she dumped her with her grandmother and disappeared since then. This killed Musa, she wanted answers but her grandmother was not comfortable talking about the issue," Buyisile said, adding that not knowing her mother killed Musa. "This thing of not knowing her mother really hurt Musa. When she discovered that her mother was raped and the family tried to cover it up, it didn't sit well with her."