Father allegedly throws “unloved” 16-year-old daughter into disused well in Beitridge

A 16-year-old girl from Beitbridge is recovering in hospital after surviving an ordeal that has shocked her community, spending nearly a week trapped inside a disused well after allegedly being thrown into it by her father.

The teenager was rescued on Monday after villagers heard her cries and discovered her alive at the bottom of the abandoned well in Tongwe Village, Ward 4, under the jurisdiction of Headman Foromela.

Community members believe the girl survived because her fall was broken by logs and tree branches that had been dumped into the approximately 12-metre-deep well. The debris prevented her from plunging deeper and may have saved her life.

Villagers said the girl endured six days in the well without food and water before she was found. She is now receiving treatment at Beitbridge District Hospital.

Police have launched an investigation into the incident and are searching for the child’s parents, who were reportedly nowhere to be found when officers visited the family’s homestead.

A source familiar with the investigation told the Chronicle that police were pursuing several leads to establish exactly what happened and why.

The case has left residents reeling, with many describing it as one of the most disturbing incidents the area has witnessed in recent years.

Chief Tshitaudze confirmed the incident and appealed to families facing difficulties to seek help before situations escalate.

“What happened to this child is deeply worrying,” he said. “The community is still in shock, and we hope investigations will establish the truth. We do not condone such behaviour, and our immediate concern is the welfare of the child.”

Some villagers alleged that the girl had long been subjected to neglect and was treated differently from her three siblings. They claimed she often slept alone in a makeshift shelter constructed from plastic sheeting and other materials.

Social worker Babongile Gora, who is assisting in the child’s care, said attention must now focus on both her physical and emotional recovery.

“This child has survived a traumatic experience,” she said. “While her rescue is remarkable, the psychological scars may take much longer to heal. It is important that she receives care, protection and support from both professionals and the community as she begins her recovery.”