St Stithians Teen Couple Cameron Waldeck-Cooks and Ethan Coetzee: Funeral and Memorial Update
- More than 10 days after the deaths of Cameron Waldeck-Cooks and Ethan Coetzee, police have declined to share new details with the public
- Post-mortem findings shifted the investigation after preliminary results indicated Cameron died from strangulation or suffocation
- Cameron Waldeck-Cooks' family confirmed a memorial service will take place amid ongoing investigation by the authorities
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More than ten days after the deaths of St Stithians teen couple Cameron Waldeck-Cooks and Ethan Coetzee, questions about their memorial and funeral arrangements remain unanswered, as investigators continue to probe the circumstances surrounding the alleged murder-suicide.
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Mpumalanga Police spokesperson Colonel Mavela Masondo confirmed this week that police would not be releasing any new information to the public while the investigation remains active.
What happened at the Waterval Lodge
Cameron, a Grade 11 pupil at St Stithians College in Johannesburg, and Ethan Coetzee, who completed matric in 2025, were found dead on Monday morning, 3 August, at the Waterval self-catering lodge in Mpumalanga. Ethan’s father, Graham Coetzee, discovered their bodies. According to a statement from Ethan’s family, the pair had appeared to be happy the night before their deaths.
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Cameron had been taking part in a multi-day hike as part of his efforts to earn the Gold level of The President’s Award for Youth Empowerment.
Police initially classified the deaths as an inquest and did not suspect foul play. However, the investigation took a different direction after post-mortem examinations were conducted.
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Preliminary findings, which were supported by an independent forensic pathologist, indicated that Cameron died from strangulation or suffocation. Ethan’s death, meanwhile, is believed to have been a suicide.
Following the post-mortem findings, authorities opened a murder investigation into Cameron’s death. No one has been formally charged, and police have not publicly stated that Ethan was responsible for Cameron’s death.
Memorial service planned for August
Cameron’s parents released a public statement confirming that a memorial service will take place in August, although the exact date has yet to be revealed. It is also not known whether Cameron or Ethan has already been buried in a private funeral.
Tributes have continued to come from across the community, with St Stithians College, The President’s Award for Youth Empowerment and anti-gender-based violence organisation Women For Change among those honouring Cameron’s memory.
A group of cyclists taking part in the Trans Baviaans Race also dedicated their race to Cameron. Her father, Derrick Cooks, expressed his gratitude for the gesture, saying that the team’s decision to carry her memory with them was deeply meaningful and something Cameron would have greatly appreciated.
Cameron's brother, Ethan Waldeck-Cooks, addressed the matter publicly on his Instagram page, while the Coetzee family also commissioned a private forensic pathologist.
Ethan Coetzee's family breaks silence
Briefly News also reported that the family of Ethan Coetzee broke their silence after preliminary post-mortem findings linked him to Cameron Waldeck-Cook's death
Cameron's brother Ethan publicly accused his sister's partner of murder in an emotional Instagram post.
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Proofreading by Kelly Lippke, copy editor at Briefly.co.za.
Source: Briefly News
