The family of 26-year-old Montagu rugby player Lynze Jansen is demanding answers after his body was discovered at a graveyard in Ashbury on Saturday night.
His father, Warner Jansen, said the family had been told that a cable was found around Lynze’s neck, but he rejected suggestions that his son had taken his own life.
Warner said the circumstances surrounding the death had left the family with more questions than answers and urged anyone who may have seen or heard anything to speak to police.
The South African Police Service has opened an inquest into the discovery of the body.
Western Cape police spokesperson Thembakazi Mpendukana confirmed that Montagu SAPS was investigating the circumstances surrounding the death.
“This office confirms that Montagu SAPS has opened an inquest following the discovery of a male’s body aged 26 at a graveyard in Ashbury on Saturday, 7 November 2026.”
Police have not confirmed the cause of death, whether foul play was involved or whether anyone has been arrested.
Father questions suicide theory
Warner said Lynze had been visiting his girlfriend on Friday night and was believed to have left her home at about 23:00.
He said the family received news of Lynze’s death in the early hours of Saturday morning.
The father said details circulating in the community were conflicting, making it difficult for the family to establish exactly what had happened.
“I was told that he left her place around 11pm on Friday evening. At 2pm on Saturday morning, we were told that he was found dead at the graveyard.
“There are so many stories going around now. But what we heard is that a cable was found around his neck. He still had all his clothes and shoes on. Even his cap was on his head.”
Warner said Lynze also appeared to have blood around his nose and foam coming from his mouth.
He said those details, together with what he understood about the location, had made him question the possibility that his son died by suicide.
“I don’t believe he took his own life. Anyone who was at the scene would tell you there is no way someone can hang themselves on such a small tree.”
Warner said the family believed Lynze may have been murdered, but police have not made such a finding at this stage.
The inquest will be used to establish the circumstances and cause of death, with further criminal charges possible if evidence points to foul play.
‘He had so much to live for’
Warner described his son as a loving, friendly and charismatic man who was devoted to his children.
Lynze was a father to three children: two girls and a boy.
His family said he loved all three children and was actively making plans for his future.
“My son was a loving person. He was so friendly and charismatic. He had so much to live for. He has three children, two girls and a boy. He loved them all.
“Just the other day, he upgraded his bakkie and told me what else he planned on doing with it. He was happy in his work. He was a foreman at a construction company.
“We believe he was murdered. We call on anyone who might have heard or seen anything to come forward. We just want answers and closure.”
The family’s account of Lynze’s plans and responsibilities has added to its belief that his death requires a thorough investigation.
However, investigators will need to establish the facts through forensic evidence, witness statements and the post-mortem examination rather than relying on rumours circulating in the community.
Montagu community in shock
The death has sent shockwaves through Montagu and the surrounding Boland communities, where Lynze was well known through his work and rugby career.
Montagu Community Policing Forum chairperson Jan Hoffman said residents were struggling to come to terms with the loss.
Hoffman said Lynze was known by people across the town and described him as a lovable person.
“The community is in shock. This was a boy who was known by everyone. He was such a loveable person. His father is also a well-known man who has created many jobs for the communities in and around Montagu.
“We extend our deepest condolences to Lynze’s family and loved ones. We also call on anyone with information that can assist Montagu police to come forward. This will also help Lynze’s family get closure.”
The CPF has urged community members with information to report it directly to police instead of spreading unverified versions of events.
That appeal is particularly important while the inquest remains open and investigators work to establish what happened between the time Lynze left his girlfriend’s home and the discovery of his body.
Rugby clubs pay tribute
Lynze’s death has also affected the local rugby community.
The Montagu Villagers Rugby Club extended its condolences to his loved ones.
According to his father, Lynze was one of the youngest players to join the club’s first team when he was 18 years old.
He later played for United Stars Rugby Club, based in the Koo Valley near Montagu, where he had spent the past two seasons.
For teammates and supporters, Lynze was more than a rugby player. He was a familiar face in a close-knit sporting community and a young father with strong ties to the area.
His involvement in the sport had allowed him to build relationships across Montagu and the Koo Valley.
The tributes from the clubs reflect the impact his death has had on people who knew him both on and off the field.
Family prepares for birthday funeral
The family plans to lay Lynze to rest on Saturday, 21 November.
The date would have been his 27th birthday, making the funeral even more painful for those who loved him.
Instead of celebrating his birthday, his family and friends will gather to mourn his death and remember the life he lived.
The timing has added to the emotional weight of the loss, particularly for his three children and his parents.
Warner said the family wanted answers and closure as it prepared to say goodbye.
For now, the family’s belief that Lynze was murdered remains an allegation and has not been confirmed by police.
Montagu SAPS is investigating an inquest, and the post-mortem process is expected to help determine the cause of death.
Police investigation continues
Mpendukana did not provide further details about the circumstances surrounding Lynze’s death.
The investigation is expected to consider the scene where the body was found, the reported cable, the condition of the body and any evidence of injuries or a struggle.
Detectives may also speak to people who were at the graveyard, residents in the surrounding area and anyone who saw Lynze after he left his girlfriend’s home.
The exact time at which he arrived at the graveyard and how he got there will also form part of the investigation.
Police have not confirmed whether the cable was linked to his death, whether it had been used to suspend him or whether another explanation exists.
Those questions can only be answered by investigators and forensic experts.
The family has asked anyone with information to come forward and assist Montagu police.
Information may be provided to the nearest police station or through the Crime Stop line on 08600 10111.
Community members should avoid sharing graphic material, naming possible suspects without evidence or treating rumours as established facts.
At the latest update, an inquest had been opened, no cause of death had been publicly confirmed and no arrests had been announced.
As Lynze’s family prepares for a funeral on what would have been his 27th birthday, his father and the wider Montagu community are left waiting for the answers that will show how the young rugby player died.