Mpumalanga police have opened a murder investigation following the deaths of St Stithians College Grade 11 pupil Cameron Waldeck-Cooks and former pupil Ethan Coetzee. The pair were found dead at a lodge in the Sabie area earlier this week.
The deaths were initially investigated as an inquest, but police said the case was upgraded after post-mortem examinations produced new findings. Investigators said the results suggest that Waldeck-Cooks, 17, may have been strangled, while Coetzee, 19, may have died by suicide.
Police have urged the public to avoid speculation about the circumstances surrounding the deaths as the investigation continues. Social media discussions about what may have happened have circulated widely since the bodies were discovered.
Cameron Waldeck-Cooks Death Leads To Murder Investigation
Police spokesperson Colonel Mavela Masondo confirmed that the Cameron Waldeck-Cooks case is now being investigated as murder alongside an inquest. He said the initial inquest docket was amended after the post-mortem findings became available.
“The South African Police Service in Mpumalanga is now investigating a case of murder and an inquest following the deaths of two teenagers at a certain lodge in Sabie.
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“An inquest docket was initially opened. However, following postmortem results, a case of murder was added. The postmortem results suggests that the 17-year-old female may have been strangled, while the 19-year-old male may have taken his own life.”
The findings have prompted detectives to investigate the circumstances surrounding the deaths, while no conclusion has been announced regarding the motive or events leading up to the incident.
St Stithians Pupil Remembered By School Community
Cameron Waldeck-Cooks was a Grade 11 pupil at St Stithians Girls’ College and had been part of the school community since Grade R. The school said she had spent 12 years at St Stithians and contributed to different aspects of campus life.
St Stithians College described Cameron as a “loved and valued member” of its community in a tribute following the deaths. The school also paid tribute to Ethan Coetzee, who matriculated from St Stithians Boys’ College in 2025.
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The deaths of Cameron Waldeck-Cooks and Ethan Coetzee have generated speculation on social media. Police have appealed to members of the public to refrain from spreading unverified claims while detectives work to establish what happened.
The murder investigation and inquest remain ongoing, with police expected to gather further evidence as part of the probe into the deaths at the Sabie lodge.
