The South African Police Service (SAPS) has appealed to the public to refrain from speculation following the deaths of two teenagers at a lodge in Sabie, Mpumalanga, saying investigations remain ongoing.
The appeal comes after post-mortem examinations prompted police to add a murder charge to an investigation that was initially registered as an inquest.
Police confirmed on Friday that preliminary post-mortem findings suggest 17-year-old St Stithians College Grade 11 pupil Cameron Waldeck-Cooks may have died from strangulation, while 19-year-old alumnus Ethan Coetzee is believed to have died by suicide.
SAPS spokesperson Mavela Masondo said investigators in Mpumalanga are now probing both a murder case and an inquest.
“The South African Police Service in Mpumalanga is now investigating a case of murder and an inquest following the deaths of two teenagers at a lodge in Sabie. An inquest docket was initially opened. However, following post-mortem results, a case of murder was added. The post-mortem results suggest that the 17-year-old female may have been strangled, while the 19-year-old male may have taken his own life,” said Masondo.
Police stressed that the investigation is still at an early stage and urged members of the public to avoid sharing unverified information or speculation on social media while detectives continue gathering evidence.