Cameron Waldeck-Cooks: 22,000 WhatsApp Messages Reportedly Sent Before Teen’s Death

The death of 17-year-old Cameron Waldeck-Cooks, a Grade 11 learner at St Stithians Girls’ College in Johannesburg, remains under investigation after preliminary post-mortem findings indicated that she may have been strangled at a holiday property near Sabie, Mpumalanga.

A report published on 25 October 2026 has drawn renewed attention to the alleged behaviour of her boyfriend, 19-year-old Ethan Coetzee, before the deaths. According to the report, Coetzee allegedly sent Cameron approximately 22,000 WhatsApp messages during February 2026, a month with 28 days.

The reported volume of messages has raised further questions about the nature of their relationship and the events leading up to their deaths. However, the figure and the full context of the messages should be treated as reported claims unless independently confirmed by investigators or forensic evidence.

Two teenagers found dead in Sabie

Cameron and Coetzee were found dead at a holiday property in the Sabie area on Monday, 3 August 2026.

Mpumalanga police spokesperson Colonel Mavela Masondo previously confirmed that police received a report of two people found dead at accommodation in the area. Officers who attended the scene found a 17-year-old girl and a 19-year-old man, both of whom were declared dead.

Police initially opened an inquest while investigating the circumstances surrounding the deaths.

The direction of the investigation changed after post-mortem findings became available. Police subsequently confirmed that a murder case had been added to the investigation.

Preliminary findings indicated that Cameron may have died from strangulation, while Coetzee was believed to have died by suicide.

Cameron’s parents, Derrick Cooks and Claire Waldeck-Cooks, also appointed an independent forensic pathologist. They said the preliminary findings from that examination indicated that their daughter had died as a result of strangulation and suffocation.

The findings prompted further investigation into the circumstances surrounding her death.

Cameron had travelled to Sabie for a hiking trip

According to her parents, Cameron travelled to the Sabie area after being invited to join two families on a hiking trip.

She 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.

The programme requires participants to undertake a multi-day adventurous journey as part of the award requirements. Cameron viewed the trip as an opportunity to work towards that goal.

Her family said they were informed on the morning of 3 August that she had been found dead.

Cameron had attended St Stithians Girls’ College since Grade R and was involved in rowing and netball. Her school described her as a committed sportswoman who supported and encouraged younger learners.

Her parents remembered her as a warm, determined and kind-hearted daughter whose death had left an immeasurable void in their lives.

Investigation into the circumstances of the deaths continues

The reported WhatsApp messages have added to public interest in the case, which has attracted considerable attention since the teenagers were found dead.

Previous reports have included allegations about controlling behaviour in the relationship. These claims, along with the reported number of messages, must be distinguished from findings formally established by investigators.

The available police statements confirm that Cameron’s death is being investigated as a murder. They do not, by themselves, establish every detail of the relationship, the alleged messages or the precise sequence of events that led to the deaths.

Cameron’s family has previously appealed to the public and media not to present conflicting or unverified accounts as established fact while the investigation and forensic processes continue.

The circumstances surrounding both deaths remain a matter for investigators to establish.

Cameron remembered by her school community

Amid the investigation, Cameron’s family and school community have paid tribute to the teenager.

St Stithians described her as a valued member of the school community who excelled in rowing and netball. She was also remembered for her leadership and the support she offered younger rowers.

Her death has left her family, friends and fellow learners grieving while authorities continue working to establish the full circumstances of what happened in Sabie.

The reported 22,000 WhatsApp messages have brought renewed attention to the events preceding the tragedy. The significance of that communication, and whether it provides further evidence relevant to the investigation, remains dependent on the available evidence and the findings of the authorities.