Cape Town - While learners were cheering for their schools during a sports day held at Hoërskool Overberg last Wednesday, the cheerful voice of Deveney Nel was being silenced just metres away from the sports field.
Nel was reported missing on Wednesday when she did not pitch for her transport home to Grabouw.
The Grade 10 learner was later found stabbed to death, with her body dumped behind the locked doors of her school’s storeroom.
It is believed the storeroom was not where the 16-year-old was murdered – a source said there were drag marks on the ground from the toilet.
The source said Nel’s ribbon and her cellphone were found on the back of a bakkie of a man who works close to the school.
The shocking discovery has left the school, and the community, in shock.
The Western Cape Education Department said psychologists and social workers were working with other organisations to provide counselling to learners and the broader community.
The school was closed on Thursday to allow police investigations to take place, and to provide counselling.
Education MEC David Maynier conveyed his heartfelt condolences to the learner’s family, friends, and the school community. “No words could provide comfort right now, but our thoughts are with them at this time.
“The school community is understandably traumatised and distressed.”
Maynier asked the media and public to respect the privacy of the family, fellow learners and staff. “Allow them the space to grieve this unimaginable loss.”
Police oversight and community safety MEC Anroux Marais has offered her support, saying she will closely monitor the police investigation.
In a letter sent to Marais from the Cape Forum, its chairperson Heindrich Wyngaard listed grievances. He noted that on the day Deveney’s mom Lida
Nel wanted to open a missing person’s report in Caledon, but was sent to Grabouw instead.
Wyngaard also said a senior officer from the Overberg district command unit apparently took control of the crime scene before the local police could carry out an investigation, despite the presence of the local station commander.
There are also allegations that the scene was “cleaned up”, and the person who came across her body, as well as the person on the back of whose bakkie her cellphone was found were not immediately questioned.
Wyngaard, a resident in Caledon, said many of the learners, especially the girls, were feeling unsafe and their parents worried that the school’s security cameras were not working properly.
In voice notes that circulated on Wednesday, believed from Deveney’s mom, she said she cannot understand how someone could murder a child.
Lida Nel, however, did not respond to messages from the media.
Police spokesperson FC van Wyk said Caledon police have opened a murder docket. “This case will be transferred to the police’s provincial Serious and Violent Crimes Unit.”
Anyone with information is requested to phone the investigating officer Detective Brigadier Leon Hanana on 082 522 2281 or Crime Stop on 08600 10111.
Cape Argus