The school in Caledon informed parents of Deveney Nel’s death late on Wednesday night after she was reported missing from the SAPS.

Security was beefed up at Overberg High School in Caledon after the body of Deveney Nel (16), a Gr. 10 learner at the school, was found in a storeroom on the school premises on Wednesday evening.

A flower laying ceremony was held for her at the school on Monday morning, after which Johan Jacobs, principal, spoke to learners and parents. Two ministers from the community also addressed the learners.

In a voice message to learners and the broader school community on Sunday, Jacobs said there would be extra security at the school on Monday. The School Governing Body also confirmed in a statement that security at the school would be tightened.

Jacobs went on to say the director and district manager of the department of education will visit the school on Monday. The department will also make social workers and counsellors available to learners. “The South African Police Service (SAPS) will also be represented at the school on Monday.”

“We cannot hide that this is a shocking event for the school, Nel said in the message. Nor can we hide how broken our hearts are. Not just mine and the Nel family’s, but many of our learners and our parents. Furthermore, there are an incredible number of questions.

We’ve always been a close-knit family at school, the Ovie family that stands out from other schools because we care about each other. So, in this shocking time, I ask that you do not live in fear.

Principal warns against fake news
The reports in the newspapers and on social media contain a lot of fake news, Jacobs declared.

He referred to a specific Sunday publication in whose report there were “ambiguities and untruths.”

According to Jacobs, this is currently an open criminal investigation and he and the other teachers of the school are not allowed to speak to the media. However, he said that he himself also knows very little about the facts.

“The police have not contacted me or issued a statement.”

There are widespread reports on social media, none of which are true or verified. As soon as we have more information, we will share it immediately, the school’s governing body said.

Happy Sports Day ends with murder mystery
Photos of Deveney were circulated on social media wednesday after a sporting event at the school. She didn’t show up for her carpool event to Grabouw, where she and her mother, Lida, and younger sister, Jamie, live.

The Caledon School played rugby and netball against Bredasdorp High School on Wednesday.

A search group was formed after which Deveney’s body was found in a storeroom on the school grounds.

The school informed parents of Deveney’s death late Wednesday night. “It is with sadness that we announce the death of a beloved Ovie child, Deveney Nel (Grade 10),” the school said.

As a result, the school was closed on Thursday pending the SAPS’s investigation.

Concerns about investigation into Deveney’s death
In a letter to Anroux Marais, Minister of Police Review and Community Safety for the Western Cape, Heinrich Wyngaard, executive chairman of the civil society organisation Cape Forum, expressed concern about issues relating to the investigation that had come to their attention:

• That Deveyney’s mother initially wanted to report her daughter missing to Caledon police station and then sent back to the police station in Grabouw, where they live;

• That a senior officer of the Overberg District Command Unit reportedly took control of the crime scene before local police could investigate, and reportedly also despite the presence of the local station commander;

• That the above officer allegedly denied the local ambulance services access to the victim, causing a delay in declaring the victim dead;

• That the scene reportedly appeared “cleaned up”; And

• That the person who came across her body, as well as the person in whose possession her mobile phone was allegedly found, were reportedly not immediately questioned.

“Cape Forum believes that clarity on the above issues will help the murderer of young Deveney Nel be apprehended soon and that justice will prevail.”

Calling for increased security at schools
David Manier, Minister of Education in the Western Cape, said the circumstances surrounding the learner’s death were being investigated by the SAPS.

“Marais and I have been in touch, and she has offered her support and will be closely monitoring the investigation by the SAPS.

Meanwhile, Bongiwe Mkhwibiso, ANC chief whip in Theewaterskloof Municipality and ANC Women’s League vice-chairperson in the Western Cape, said in a statement that she was calling on the Western Cape security cluster as well as the Department of Education to urgently investigate the safety and security of schools.

“Both the National Strategic Plan on Gender-Based Violence and Femicide and the Western Cape Security Plan must be implemented urgently.

“Safety and security of women and children in the Overberg region has been a major concern in recent times. Last December, statistics revealed that contact crimes in the Overberg – including murder, attempted murder, sexual crimes, assault and robbery increased by 6.8%,” the statement said.

The SAPS did not respond to requests for comment by The Citizen on Monday. These will be added once comments are received.

• Anyone with information can contact SAPS Investigating Officer Detective Brigadier Leon Hanana on 082 522 2281.

source:Follow-up: Security tightens to degree. 10 learners found dead on Overberg High School grounds – Volkskrag News