SA teen dies in Mauritius after fight with step-mother

A once-in-a-lifetime island holiday has ended in tragedy for a South African family with the death of a 17-year-old after a violent altercation with her step-mother at a hotel in Mauritius.

South African Maria Vosloo‚ 34‚ appeared in the Bambous District Court on Thursday facing a provisional murder charge.

Police on the island said that 17-year-old Mundolene Vosloo – from Springs in Gauteng - allegedly fell to the ground after being struck in the face at the Riu Hotel in Le Morne on Wednesday.

The Mauritian reported on Thursday that witnesses interviewed by the police said that Marietjie and Mundolene had an argument in the afternoon at the resort swimming pool over towels.

The dispute flared again later in the afternoon and the teenager was allegedly struck several times in the face.

Marietjie allegedly told police that she had slapped the “bad tempered” teen who staggered and collapsed on the floor in a corridor at the resort.

The family‚ including two younger boys and father Mike‚ had reportedly arrived on the island to start their holiday on Tuesday.

Messages of condolences poured in on social media for Mundolene. Tyron Bothma‚ her boyfriend from Johannesburg‚ wrote on Facebook: “I’m going to miss you so much. But now you’re with Jesus. I’m so thankful for the time we had together.”

Antonet Niettie Muller‚ from Springs in Gauteng‚ shared a message from the family‚ written in Afrikaans‚ on Facebook. “Hello everyone‚ thank you for all your prayers in our time of mourning‚” it said.

“I just want to say that I am shattered‚ my world has been torn apart. I haven’t slept and I cannot stop crying. I cannot believe my beautiful child was taken away from me yesterday. I miss her terribly. I just wanted a once in a lifetime holiday for my children. They were so excited and look at how it turned out.”

The message said that after collapsing from a blow to the head‚ Mundolene was immediately given medical treatment at the hotel but declared dead about 30 minutes later. An autopsy was performed on Thursday indicating that she had suffered from an intracranial haemorrhage.