“Sad”: True Crime SA Breaks Down Case Findings on Cameron Waldeck-Cooks and Ethan Coetzee’s Deaths

• Cameron Waldeck-Cooks, a 17-year-old St Stithians Girls' College rower, and 19-year-old Ethan Coetzee were found dead at a Sabie lodge on 3 August 2026
• Post-mortem results contradicted early social media theories of a gas leak, with forensic pathologists revealing Cameron showed signs of strangulation and suffocation
• SAPS upgraded the case from an inquest to a formal murder investigation, reigniting national conversations about GBV and femicide in South Africa

Two teenagers from St Stithians College in Johannesburg were found dead inside a holiday lodge in Sabie, Mpumalanga, on 3 August 2026. Cleaning staff discovered the lifeless bodies of Cameron Waldeck-Cooks, 17, and Ethan Coetzee, 19, inside a room at the property. The news sent shockwaves through the school community and across South Africa.

Cameron was a Grade 11 pupil at St Stithians Girls' College. She had travelled to Sabie as part of her preparation to complete the Gold Level of The President's Award for Youth Empowerment, a multi-day hiking excursion. Ethan, a former St Stithians Boys' College pupil who had matriculated in 2025, accompanied her. The two were believed to be in a relationship.

Read also

“The tragic loss”: St Stithians under fire for handling of Cameron Waldeck-cooks murder case

In the days after the discovery, social media platforms were flooded with theories suggesting a gas leak or drug use had caused both deaths. Those theories did not last long.

Inquest upgraded to murder

Post-mortem examinations changed the course of the investigation entirely. An independent forensic pathologist hired by Cameron's family, alongside state autopsies, found that Cameron had marks on her neck consistent with strangulation, as well as indications of suffocation. Following those findings, the South African Police Service upgraded the inquest docket to a formal murder investigation.

Award-winning true crime commentator @bella_monsoon broke down the case update for her South African followers, urging people not to "fill in the blanks" while the investigation remained ongoing.

Forensic evidence pointed strongly to Ethan having strangled Cameron before taking his own life. Cameron's brother publicly condemned online speculation, confirming that his sister had sustained multiple physical injuries and had not passed away peacefully. He directly accused Ethan of causing the trauma.

A community in grief

Those who knew Cameron remembered her as kind, warm and determined. She had represented her school in numerous rowing competitions and was described as a natural leader who mentored younger girls in the rowing programme.

Read also

Family points to new findings following death of St Stithians teen Cameron Waldeck-Cook

Ethan was remembered by St Stithians as a young man of humility and commitment, known for his warmth and the strength of his friendships.

Mzansi reacts to the tragic case

South Africans were deeply disturbed by what emerged, and reactions poured in on @bella_monsoon's TikTok page:

@Zuby 🌺 زبيدة said:

"Two teenage school kids in a hotel room alone is already so wrong on many levels."

@Nini❤️ wrote:

"I knew he did it. I knew he murdered her."

@Siviwe Amanda 🌻 asked:

"Why are people defending him?"

@Lindi 🇿🇦🇨🇦 said:

"Possible murder-suicide, let's hope it wasn't GBV, that would be heartbreaking."

@Ace added:

"How can parents allow kids to stay together?

The case has reignited an urgent national conversation about gender-based violence and femicide in South Africa.

See the full clip below:

More on Cameron Waldeck-Cooks

• Briefly News recently reported on Cameron's family sharing new findings alongside a purple ribbon, as Ethan Coetzee's family disputed any involvement in her death.
• Anti-GBV organisation Women For Change condemned Cameron's death as femicide, with founder Sabrina Walter calling for urgent government action in an open letter to President Ramaphosa.
• Meanwhile, St Stithians College faced backlash over how it responded to the deaths of the two students, prompting the school to release a Women's Day statement.

Source: Briefly News