SABIE, MPUMALANGA – A peaceful hiking trip in the scenic mountains of Sabie, Mpumalanga, has turned into an agonizing tragedy, leaving a prominent Johannesburg school community in deep mourning and sparking a full-scale murder investigation. The grieving father of 17-year-old St Stithians Girls’ College pupil Cameron Waldeck-Cooks has broken his silence, revealing heartbreaking details that led to the discovery of his daughter’s lifeless body in a lodge room alongside a 19-year-old former pupil.
Derrick Cooks, the teenager’s father, shared the devastating news that the family was informed on the morning of August 3 that Cameron had been found dead at a lodge in Sabie. Cameron, a dedicated Grade 11 pupil, had traveled to Mpumalanga for what was supposed to be a milestone journey in her personal development. She was working towards the prestigious Gold level of The President’s Award for Youth Empowerment, South Africa's version of The Duke of Edinburgh’s International Award.
"Cameron was working towards the Gold level of The President’s Award for Youth Empowerment, the South African implementation of The Duke of Edinburgh’s International Award," Cooks explained. "As part of the programme, she was preparing to complete a multi-day adventurous journey. When she was invited to join two families on a hiking trip in Sabie, Mpumalanga, she saw it as an opportunity to work towards that goal."
Instead of achieving her milestone, Cameron and 19-year-old Ethan Coetzee, a former St Stithians pupil, were found dead together in a room at the lodge. The shocking discovery prompted an immediate emergency response, with police and medical personnel rushing to the scene. Both youths were declared dead upon arrival.
Remembering his daughter, Cooks painted a portrait of a remarkable young woman whose absence has left an unfillable void. "Cameron was a deeply loved daughter, sister, family member, friend and student," her father said, his voice heavy with sorrow. "She was kind-hearted, warm and determined. She had a quiet strength, cared deeply for those around her, and naturally encouraged and supported younger girls who looked up to her. Her loss has left an immeasurable void in our lives."
As the initial shock of the tragedy reverberated through families and school corridors, questions surrounding the circumstances of the deaths began to mount. Dissatisfied with preliminary assessments, the Cooks family took the proactive step of appointing an independent forensic pathologist to conduct a thorough examination. The independent expert's findings dramatically altered the trajectory of the official inquiry.
"We appointed an independent forensic pathologist who has advised us that his preliminary findings indicate that Cameron died as a result of strangulation and suffocation," Cooks revealed. "The police have confirmed that they have opened a murder investigation."
Police spokesperson Colonel Mavela Masondo confirmed that the nature of the police inquiry had been escalated following the receipt of post-mortem results. While an inquest docket was initially opened to establish the basic facts of the incident, the emergence of forensic evidence pointing to foul play necessitated a shift in focus. Preliminary police findings suggest that while Cameron may have died from strangulation, Ethan Coetzee may have died by suicide.
"Upon arrival at the scene, members found a 19-year-old male and a 17-year-old female. Both were declared dead at the scene," Masondo stated, detailing the initial police response. He further confirmed the procedural shift: "However, following post-mortem results, a case of murder was added."
The revelation has sent shockwaves through the school community and raised pressing questions about the safety and supervision of young people participating in extramural expeditions. Investigators are now meticulously piecing together the timeline of events leading up to that fateful morning in Sabie, interviewing family members, companions from the trip, and lodge staff to understand how a journey intended to celebrate youth empowerment ended in such profound sorrow.
As the murder investigation unfolds, the focus remains on uncovering the unvarnished truth behind what transpired behind closed doors in the Mpumalanga lodge. For the Waldeck-Cooks family, the path ahead is defined by grief, remembrance, and an unwavering pursuit of justice for Cameron. The community stands in solidarity, watching closely as law enforcement and independent experts work to bring clarity to a dark and deeply painful chapter. The legacy of a kind-hearted teenager with a quiet strength now rests in the hands of investigators, whose findings will determine how justice is served in this tragic Sabie mystery.
