Police Probe Drug Link in Deaths of St Stithians Athlete and Alumnus

• Police opened an inquest docket after the bodies of two Johannesburg teenagers were discovered at a holiday home outside Sabie, Mpumalanga
• Cleaning staff found Cameron Waldeck-Cooks, 17, and Ethan Coetzee, 19, on Monday morning, with a drug link suspected as the cause of death
• St Stithians remembered Waldeck-Cooks as a standout sportswoman who mentored younger pupils in the rowing programme

Police are investigating the deaths of two Johannesburg teenagers whose bodies were discovered at a self-catering holiday home situated just outside Sabie, Mpumalanga, on Monday morning.

The deceased have been identified as Cameron Waldeck-Cooks, 17, a Grade 11 pupil at St Stithians Girls' College in Randburg, and Ethan Coetzee, 19, who completed his matric at St Stithians Boys' College in 2025. The two, according to News24, were reportedly in a relationship and were found lying on a bed inside a room at the Waterval Self-Catering Holiday Home at approximately 07:30 when cleaning staff arrived.

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Postmortem to confirm cause of death

Mpumalanga police spokesperson Lieutenant Colonel Mavela Masondo confirmed that an inquest docket has been opened. Authorities have indicated there is no evidence of foul play at this stage. A source close to the investigation indicated that a drug link is suspected. However, a postmortem scheduled at the Lydenburg state mortuary will be required to establish the cause of death formally.

The five-bedroom property is located roughly one kilometre from Sabie along the R37 towards Lydenburg. It is owned by Anton Bezuidenhout of White River, who said he only became aware the tragedy had occurred at his property after being contacted by the media. Bezuidenhout has been leasing the home to holiday rental agent Francois Cornelius for the past five years. Cornelius did not respond to requests for comment.

St Stithians mourns loss of Waldeck-Cooks

St Stithians rector Celeste Gilardi described the grief felt across the school community as almost impossible to put into words. In a tribute shared on Facebook, the college paid homage to Waldeck-Cooks, who first enrolled at the school in Grade R in 2015. She was remembered as an exceptional sportswoman who excelled in both rowing and netball, and was particularly noted for the time she dedicated to mentoring younger girls within the rowing programme.

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Investigations into the circumstances surrounding the deaths are continuing.

Student dies after collapsing during rugby match

Briefly News previously reported that Paul Klaasen, an 18-year-old first-year student at Akademia's Paarl campus, collapsed during an informal touch rugby game on Monday evening

Staff, fellow students and emergency services responded to the scene but were unable to save the BEd student

Source: Briefly News