FAMILY BEAT TEEN TO DEATH

A TEENAGE girl has been allegedly beaten to death by her parents and relatives for eloping with her boyfriend.

Community members who alerted Sunday World to the situation and spoke on condition of anonymity claim family members assaulted their daughter.

It is alleged Hafsa Tarki, who was living in Azaadville, Krugersdorp, recently arrived in the country with her Indian parents and took up residence in the Joburg suburb.

Hafsa, say community members of the West Rand suburb, soon fell in love with fellow teenager Ibrahim Patel. Though their ages could not be officially verified, they are said to have both been 17.

The Tarkis did not approve and the couple fled to Nelspruit, Mpumalanga to escape alleged abuse from their rel- atives, but Hafsa s parents found her and took her home.

Police spokesperson Tshisikawe Ndou confirms that an inquest docket has been opened to determine the cause of her death

Neighbours say Hafsa died following a severe assault by her parents and relatives after she was dragged out of her love nest in Mpumalanga.

She was found in a bathroom with a sheet over her body. The family said after the assault she went to the bathroom, where she hanged herself. We don t believe that,” says a community elder who also asked not be named.

She was buried yesterday at the Azaadville cemetery according to Muslim burial rites.

But according to Muslim burial rites, a person who commits suicide cannot be buried in a Muslim cemetery.