By: Natasha Archary

The body of 16-year-old Deveney Nel was found in a storeroom of the Overberg High School in Caledon on Wednesday, 07 August.
Nel was reported missing by her family after she failed to return home. A search for the Grade 10 learner led to her lifeless body being discovered inside a storeroom at her school.
CapeTownetc reports that Nel was stabbed in her neck and chest and then dragged to the storeroom where she was later found.
Nel was a resident at one of the school’s boarding residences and the school was closed on Thursday, 08 to allow police to investigate.
The case is being investigated by the provincial serious and violent crimes unit but no arrests have been made to date.
Overberg High School reopened on Monday, 12 August and the Western Cape Department of Education said counselling sessions would be available for students.
The school is holding a memorial for Deveney Nel on Monday and called on learners to bring flowers to celebrate her life.
Bongiwe Mkhwibiso-ANC Chiefwhip in Theewaterskloof Municipality and ANC Women’s League Deputy Chairperson in the Western Cape Province expressed shock that a life so young was taken during Women’s Month.
“I learnt with great shock and devastation that on Women’s Month a life so young, so innocent yet so full of promise was untimely taken away from us on what should have been every learner’s safe space. The lifeless body of Deveney Nel, a 16 year old grade 10 learner at Overberg High School was found in the storeroom of the school premises.
I extend my sincerest condolences to Deveney’s immediate family, Overberg High School community, Overberg Community at large, Deveney’s close friends who must be reeling with trauma, fear, sadness and perhaps paralysed by emotional distress. I am urgently appealing to authorities to prioritise urgent psychological therapy and support to those affected.
Safety and security of women and children in the Overberg region is a major concern lately, last December statistics revealed that contact crimes in Overberg – including murder, attempted murder, sexual crimes, assault and robbery – had increased by 6, 8 %.”
Mkhwibiso called on the Western Cape Department of Education to urgently address safety and security in schools, and demands details of the gender-based violence implementation plan.
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