By Mapaballo Borotho
- Post-mortem results have led Mpumalanga police to open a murder case following the deaths of two St Stithians College teenagers at a lodge in Sabie.
- Police say Grade 11 pupil Cameron Waldeck-Cooks may have died from strangulation, while alumnus Ethan Coetzee is believed to have died by suicide.
- Authorities have urged the public to avoid speculation as investigations continue.
In a tragic turn of events, post-mortem results have revealed that the Grade 11 pupil from St Stithians College, Cameron Waldeck-Cooks, may have died from strangulation.
Police confirmed on Friday, 07 August 2026, that the 17-year-old may have been strangled to death, while the school’s alumnus, Ethan Coetzee, is believed to have died by suicide.
The pair were found dead at a lodge in Sabie, Mpumalanga, earlier this week.
On Thursday, 06 August 2026, Mpumalanga police reported that no foul play was suspected in the mysterious deaths of the two teenagers. However, an inquest was opened to investigate the circumstances surrounding their deaths.
Mpumalanga police spokesperson Mavela Masondo on Friday confirmed to Kaya 959 that a murder case has now been opened following the post-mortem findings.
“The post-mortem results suggest that the 17-year-old female may have been strangled, while the 19-year-old male may have taken his own life.
The investigation is still continuing to establish the full circumstances surrounding the incident,” said the police.
Speculation about what led to the deaths has circulated widely on social media, but police have urged the public not to speculate, stressing that investigations are ongoing.
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