- The family of 17-year-old St Stithians learner Cameron Waldeck-Cooks raised concerns about how police secured cellphone evidence in her murder investigation
- Cameron and former St Stithians rugby player Ethan Coetzee, 19, were found dead at a Sabie holiday home in Mpumalanga on 3 August 2026
- Preliminary post-mortem findings indicated that Cameron died after pressure was applied to her neck, prompting police to reclassify the case from an inquest to murder
The family of 17-year-old St Stithians Girls' College learner Cameron Waldeck-Cooks has raised concerns about whether police took sufficient steps to preserve key cellphone material in the ongoing murder investigation into her death, according to reports.
Source: Facebook
Cameron, a dedicated rower and netball player, and Ethan Coetzee, a 19-year-old former St Stithians Boys' College rugby player, were found dead at a holiday home in Sabie, Mpumalanga, on 3 August 2026.
Family concerned about cellphone evidence
Cameron's family believes material on her cellphone could be central to establishing what happened before her death, and has questioned whether law enforcement adequately secured it. The family has indicated that the alleged content relates to gender-based violence. The precise nature of the material has not been independently verified.
Earlier reporting also surfaced allegations that Coetzee had access to Cameron's passwords and monitored her cellphone and social media accounts. Coetzee's family has disputed characterisations of his behaviour as controlling or jealous. Those claims remain unconfirmed.
As seen in the post below on Instagram.
Post-mortem findings shift investigation
When the teenagers were first discovered, police registered the deaths as an inquest. Following preliminary post-mortem results, however, investigators opened a murder case specifically relating to Cameron's death. Mpumalanga police spokesperson Colonel Mavela Masondo confirmed the change on 7 August 2026.
Cameron's parents, Derrick Cooks and Claire Waldeck-Cooks, subsequently engaged an independent forensic pathologist to conduct a separate examination. In a statement, the family said the official and independent preliminary findings were consistent regarding the reported cause of death.
The family has urged the public to exercise restraint and to avoid treating unverified accounts as established fact while the investigation and forensic processes remain ongoing.
Coetzee's death continues to be investigated separately, and no conclusions about the circumstances surrounding either case have been confirmed beyond what investigators have publicly stated.
St Stithians College remembered Cameron as a sportswoman of notable achievement who had been part of the school community since Grade R. Staff and fellow pupils described her as kind, determined and supportive of younger learners.
Coetzee, who completed his schooling at St Stithians Boys' College in 2025, was also remembered for his sporting contributions, particularly in rugby, and for his encouragement of junior pupils.
The family expressed gratitude to the school community, Cameron's friends, and members of the rowing and netball communities for their support during the difficult period following her death.
Source: Briefly News