The family of a 22-year-old student at Stellenbosch University (SU) has reached out for burial support after their son took his own life on campus.
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Caleb James Lamoure was a teaching student at SU. The institution confirmed on Tuesday that he died at the Huis Marais campus, Netwerk24 reports.
Police spokesperson Lieutenant Colonel Malcolm Pojie confirmed to Cape {town} Etc that an inquest docket was opened after Caleb’s body was found at around 11:25am at the hostel in Bosman Street.
Caleb’s mother was in New Zealand when she was notified that her son had taken his own life. His sister, Bianca Kathan, created a fundraiser on the Givealittle platform to raise $8 000 so that his family can travel to South Africa and plan his funeral.
‘My mum, Genene Lamoure, came to visit me in New Zealand from South Africa for six months to help myself and my husband with the kids as we have no other family here,’ she wrote on the platform.
‘We were having a normal evening when my mum received a call saying my baby brother of 22 [had] committed suicide at his residence [on] campus (…) in South Africa.’
‘We don’t know where to start but we know we need money and my mum isn’t currently working as she has come over to help us and we don’t have any disposable money to draw from.’
‘All I know is that I don’t want my mum to worry about money as it is enough losing your only son at 22 after no signs or indication was given to him doing this. It doesn’t feel real. I want him to call me and tell me it was all a misunderstanding.’
Professor Deresh Ramjugernath, SU’s deputy vice-chancellor of learning and teaching, extended his condolences to Caleb’s family and friends.
He also encourages any student who needs counselling to contact the university’s 24-hour helpline by 010 205 3032 after hours, or 021 808 4994/4707 (021 927 7020 for the Tygerberg campus) during office hours.
Cape {town} Etc reached out Caleb’s family for comment.
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Picture: Givealittle