MISA mourns the loss of Reneiloe Monkhi and Ashleigh Saville and calls for greater vigilance around teen depression and suicide
19 October 2026
For immediate release
MISA, the Motor Industry Staff Association, extends its deepest condolences to the families, friends and school communities of Reneiloe Monkhi and Ashleigh Saville. Their tragic deaths have reignited urgent concerns about youth mental health, cyberbullying, depression and suicide among South Africa's children and teenagers. As an organisation serving thousands of working families across South Africa, MISA recognises that mental wellbeing does not stop at the workplace. The emotional wellbeing of workers' children affects entire families, communities and schools.
Reneiloe Monkhi, a matriculant at St Anne's Diocesan College in Hilton, KwaZulu-Natal, died on 15 October during her final examinations. Her school has remembered her as a loyal, kind and gentle young woman who will "forever be a lady in blue." Schools across the province have rallied around the St Anne's community as they mourn the loss of a young life filled with promise.
In Mitchells Plain, 17-year-old Ashleigh Saville died on 7 October after what her father, John October, described as months of cyberbullying, including private content allegedly shared without her consent by someone she trusted. After her death, he said: "My daughter hid her depression so well from me."
Those words should stop every parent in South Africa in their tracks. They serve as a painful reminder that a quiet child is not always a child who is coping. Many young people carry their pain in silence while those around them remain unaware of the depth of their struggles. These devastating losses reflect a growing mental health crisis affecting young people across South Africa.
The South African Depression and Anxiety Group (SADAG) records an average of 23 suicides a day in South Africa, with around 20 attempts for every death. The most recent national mortuary study found that nearly one in seven unnatural deaths among teenagers aged 10 to 19 is a suicide.
Clinical psychologist Clementine Dlamini, speaking to MISAtv, warned that young people today face relentless pressure, particularly online. "Bullying now happens at home online. It follows children home and they cannot get away from it," she said. Dlamini encouraged parents to help children develop resilience and healthy coping mechanisms, reminding them that failure is a normal part of life and that young people should be taught how to recover from setbacks.
"Our hearts break for these families. No parent should ever have to bury a child, and no child should ever feel so alone that they cannot ask for help," says Martlé Keyter, Chief Executive Officer: Operations at MISA.
"As parents, families and communities, we must create safe spaces where young people can speak openly about their struggles. Depression is an illness, not a weakness, and seeking help is a sign of courage. Every child deserves to know that their worth is not determined by an examination result, a social media post or the opinion of others."
MISA urges parents and guardians to remain vigilant for warning signs such as social withdrawal, persistent sadness, irritability, changes in sleep patterns and declining academic performance. Parents should take an active interest in their children's online lives and create opportunities for regular, judgement-free conversations at home. MISA further calls on parents, schools, government, social media platforms and communities to work together to tackle cyberbullying, reduce the stigma surrounding mental illness and improve access to mental health support for young people. No child should face depression, bullying or emotional distress alone.
If you or someone you know is struggling, help is available:
• SADAG Suicide Crisis Line: 0800 567 567
• SADAG SMS Line: 31393
• Lifeline South Africa: 0861 322 322
• Childline South Africa (toll-free): 116
The latest MISAtv episode is on YouTube, link below:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r2nf_9E86JY&t=220s
Issued on behalf of MISA by Sonja Carstens, Manager of MISA's Media & Communication Department. For Media enquiries please contact Phakamile Hlubi-Majola, MISA's Spokesperson, on 083 367 6417 or email [email protected].
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