Shivan Cumberlege, aged 12, had allegedly committed suicide
Image: Facebook
The tragic circumstances surrounding the death of a 12-year-old boy, Shivan Cumberlege, in Riet River, Verulam, have prompted an investigation by the provincial department of social development.
Thuba Vilane, spokesperson for the Department of Social Development, confirmed that social workers from both the department and the Verulam Child Welfare, have intervened to provide psycho-social support services to Shivan's grieving family. The follow-up is essential to assess the parents' suitability to care for Shivan’s three younger siblings, Vilane said.
According to information provided by social welfare officials, the Verulam Child Welfare office has been tasked with monitoring the well-being and care of Shivan’s siblings in the aftermath of the incident.
A family decision was made for the biological parents to relocate to Waterloo, while the two younger siblings, aged two and five, will remain with relatives who were screened as foster parents by the welfare society.
"The Verulam Child Welfare will also provide psycho-social support services to address the emotional, social and mental needs to improve family well-being. The manner in which social media handled the case has destroyed the family’s emotional well =being and caused them a lot of pain," said Vilane.
According to Vilane, a referral to examine Shivan’s case was received on May 14, shortly after the distressing news of the boy's alleged suicide circulated widely on social media. Shivan was reportedly found dead by his five-year-old brother.
According to reports, attempts were made by neighbours to save Shivan, but their efforts were in vain. He was declared deceased upon arrival at Ottawa Clinic.
On that fateful day, Shivan and his younger brother were left in their father's care as their mother attended a prayer ceremony in remembrance of her recently deceased aunt. The mother had taken the children aged two and five months. The father, a motor mechanic, was at work at the time.
The family, grappling with financial pressures, relied heavily on social assistance; the mother received a child support grant for her four children. They live in a rented room, paying R500 monthly.
Social workers from the Phoenix Service Office were dispatched on May 15, only to find no one at the home.
Further investigation revealed that the children's parents had gone to Temple Valley to stay with family members after the tragedy.
"According to the father, his cousin, who is his employer fetched him around 10am on May 14 to work on a vehicle. The cousin reported that he had bought bread for the children and also phoned the child to check up on them as the father had left his phone with the children so that they can make contact whenever they need to. It was surprising that after 11am they received shocking news that the 12 -year-old was dead.
"According to the community members there were no reports of substance abuse nor domestic violence between the child’s parents except that they are experiencing financial difficulties as they had taken loans that they were struggling to pay back," said Vilane.
He added that all concerned family members interviewed said they had not noticed Shivan being stressed or being mentally disturbed.
"According to the parents the child once reported allegations of being bullied by other children in the neighbourhood and school but he never showed any symptoms of stress or inability to cope with the situation.
"Although the circumstances that led the child to commit suicide are not known or unclear it was reported that Shivan's academic performance was reported to be good," said Vilane.