Missing teen found dead at Joburg mall
Gauteng police would only confirm that she fell to her death at the Northgate mall, north of Johannesburg, but a Facebook post by her aunt alluded to suicide.
"Yesterday, she went to school normally and then she never came back. The mother went to a police station to report her as missing. Then later yesterday she was found at the Northgate mall. Apparently she fell from the top floor," said Major Mack Mngomezulu.
Her body was found between 7pm and 8pm.
"She was still in her school clothes with her school bag. An inquest docket has been opened," said Mngomezulu.
In the early hours of the morning Klara Göttert's family confirmed that she had died.
'The darkest day'
"My beautiful niece, Klara Lynette Göttert, died today. It was the darkest day that we have ever experienced and we are going to miss that gentle, loving soul of hers so very much. Life became too much for her and it seems that she couldn’t see a way out," her aunt Yolande de Klerk posted on Facebook.
"It is a very difficult time and we appreciate your prayers, thoughts and love."
Her mother, Liesl Göttert only posted: "My daughter Klara (14) died tonight".
Yesterday night, a photo of the teenager went viral on Facebook after she had not returned from school, with a post saying: "My friend, Liesl Göttert's 14-year-old daughter, Klara Gottert, didn't come home after school today (Tuesday, 11 August 2015).
They are looking for her as we speak... Please share even if you don't know them."
Another similar message said, "They live in Westcliff, Johannesburg and she is still not home", accompanied with a picture of the girl, a description of her and her parents' contact details.
She was a pupil at the German school in Westcliff.
A family friend, Cornelius Koopman, said yesterday that the family had contacted the police.
Other suicides
Earlier this month, Welkom Technical High School pupil Charlie Brown committed suicide.
Apparently, the school’s management made the Grade 11 pupil apologise in front of the assembly on 24 July for copying during the June exam, Express reported.
Allegedly distressed by the punishment and widespread mockery on social networking sites following the public apology, the 17-year-old hanged himself in the garage of his parents’ home in Oppenheimer Park, Thabong in Welkom.
Last month, media reports said Louw Geldenhuys Primary school Grade 6 pupil Anneke Mostert also committed suicide.
According to the report, the 12-year-old took her dad's .38-revolver and shot herself.
She had written nine letters describing how she was depressed and how the "cool group" had called her ugly and fat.
(Thumbnail photo via Facebook/YolandedeKlerk)