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Teen Found Dead During Award Hike
11 Aug
Summary
- A 17-year-old girl's body was found at a lodge in Mpumalanga.
- The teen was completing a hiking trip for The President's Award.
- An investigation has been upgraded to a murder case.
A 17-year-old student from St Stithians Girls' College, Cameron Waldeck-Cooks, was found deceased on August 3rd, 2026, in Mpumalanga. Her death occurred during a five-day hiking trip undertaken for The President's Award for Youth Empowerment, a program requiring an adventurous journey.
Initially, an inquest was opened for both Cameron and 19-year-old Ethan Coetzee, who was also part of the group and reportedly died by suicide. However, the investigation into Cameron's death has been upgraded to a murder case. Preliminary findings from an independent forensic pathologist indicate she died from strangulation and suffocation.
Cameron's parents have appealed for speculation to be withheld as the investigation proceeds. They remembered their daughter as kind-hearted, warm, determined, and a supportive figure to younger girls.
