Uncertainty and grief continue to surround the death of 23-year-old Thabang Mokonyane from Mokopane, Limpopo, whose body was discovered hanging from a tree in Zimbabwe on New Year’s Day. While authorities are treating the incident as a suspected suicide, Mokonyane’s family firmly believes he was murdered and is calling for a thorough investigation into the circumstances surrounding his death.
Mokonyane was found in Lutumba, near Beitbridge, after travelling to Zimbabwe on December 30, 2025. According to information gathered, he had gone there to reconcile with his former girlfriend, Khathutshelo Mbedzi, the mother of his three-year-old child. The couple had ended their relationship in July last year, but Mokonyane reportedly wanted to make peace with her and her family.
His relatives say they were completely unaware that he had travelled outside South Africa. They believed he had left Mokopane to sell nuts in Polokwane, adding to their shock when they received a phone call informing them that he had allegedly taken his own life. Family members also expressed confusion about how he was able to cross the border, as they believed he did not own a passport.
The family’s suspicions were heightened after they were sent photographs of the scene. According to Mokonyane’s aunt, Evan Mongwe, the images raised serious questions about the official version of events. She noted that his feet appeared to be touching the ground, with parts of the rope lying loosely near them, which did not align with what the family understood about suicide by hanging. She also pointed out that his trousers were dirty around the knees, suggesting he may have been kneeling before his death.
“We do not believe what we were told,” Mongwe said. “There are too many unanswered questions. We want officials to investigate properly whether this was suicide or murder. For now, we are accepting the suicide version only because we need assistance to bring his body home.”
Mbedzi, speaking to the media, said she only became aware of Mokonyane’s presence in Zimbabwe on December 31 after being contacted by her siblings. She explained that although they were no longer together and often argued, her father spoke with Mokonyane for several hours and later offered him a place to sleep. He was expected to leave the following day.
According to Mbedzi, she discovered he was missing the next morning, and shortly thereafter was informed that someone had died outside their yard. Upon going to the scene, she realised it was Mokonyane.
The family now faces further hardship, as they are unable to afford the costs associated with repatriating his body from Zimbabwe. None of the relatives initially had passports, and Mokonyane’s mother only managed to apply for one with the help of a stranger. The situation has taken an emotional toll, particularly on the family’s elderly and ill grandparents.
Zimbabwean police have confirmed that investigations are ongoing. Meanwhile, civil society groups have urged South African and Zimbabwean authorities, including consular services, to intervene urgently, assist the family, and ensure that the true circumstances of Mokonyane’s death are established
