[imagesource:youtube]

The strange and sudden death of a young woman in her room at the academy on a Magoebaskloof farm on Sunday, July 28, has left the community reeling in fear and uncertainty.

Atarah Katzeff, just 22, was found dead in her room at the Warriors base camp in the Limpopo province.

Initially, no foul play was suspected, and an inquest was launched by the local police as they awaited the results of an autopsy. However, when the autopsy was concluded, the police confirmed that the inquest was changed to a case of murder. The suspected cause of death was strangulation.

Sources close to the investigation revealed a startling discovery: when her body was first found, there were no visible signs of a struggle or forced entry into her room and nothing was stolen or out of place. This lack of evidence of a violent encounter initially dismissed any suspicion of foul play, deepening the mystery surrounding her untimely demise.

Image: Herald

The Herald reports that Katzeff, from Cape Town, was a staff member at Warriors Academy and has been a part of the academy for the last three years. She completed the gap year programme in 2022 and completed the multiactivity adventure instructor programme last year before she joined Warriors Academy as a junior facilitator at the beginning of 2024.

Image: The Warriors Base Camp is situated along the Magoebaskloof pass.

Rudi Viljoen, owner of Warriors Academy, said they do not know who the suspects are.

“Her death is under investigation, and it is a sensitive issue. She was like a daughter in our house and was employed by us.”

Rowena Viljoen-Van Schalkwyk, programme director at Warriors Academy told Bulletin that Atarah’s death was very traumatic for the entire Warriors family and they were still in shock at the news that one of their own was murdered.

Rowena as well as the academy’s training director, René Viljoen, both attended Katzeff’s funeral on August 4 in Cape Town and returned to Magoebaskloof on Monday.

“We do not know why, who or what happened. We want answers,” said Viljoen-Van Schalkwyk.

Katzeff is survived by her parents and her twin sister, who have appointed an internationally recognised private investigation company, Privadect, to investigate her death.

On Monday evening a community meeting for Magoebaskloof (Sector 5) was held to discuss security and safety in the area.

Meanwhile, another young girl’s life was cut short in Caledon recently, too. News24 reports that 16-year-old Deveney Nel, a Grade 10 Overberg High School pupil was found dead in a storeroom at the school last Wednesday.

Western Cape Education Department spokesperson Bronagh Hammond confirmed on Thursday that the school was closed and said counselling had been arranged for pupils at a local church. A murder case has been opened.

[source:herald]