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More than a week after grade 10 pupil Deveney Nel was found dead in a storeroom at her school, Hoërskool Overburg, in Caledon police managed to arrest the person suspected of killing her.

After an extensive investigation, police made a breakthrough in the case and arrested a 17-year-old boy on Friday evening. Police spokesperson Brig Novela Potelwa said the teenager is charged with murder and expected to appear in the Caledon magistrate’s court on Monday, per SowetanLive.

“Since the discovery of the body of the female [pupil], serious violent crimes detectives have been hard at work, pursuing several leads,” Potelwa said.

A routine Wednesday unravelled into a nightmare for the Nel family earlier this month when Deveney never got on the bus after the school’s netball and rugby teams concluded their intense matches against Bredasdorp High School.

The 16-year-old girl, who lived in Grabouw, was reported missing by her mother, Lida Nel, after failing to return home.

Image: Facebook/Hoërskool Overberg

The police discovered her lifeless body on the school grounds, forcing the school’s immediate closure on Thursday as an investigation was launched. Parents were informed of the heartbreaking news late into the night last Wednesday.

Western Cape police commissioner Lt-Gen Thembisile Patekile applauded the police for the breakthrough in the case as the fight against crimes targeting women, children and other vulnerable people intensifies.

“We will spare no resources in getting to the perpetrators of crime. Gender-based violence and femicide is a priority for the SA Police Service. Hence we welcome his arrest,” Patekile said.

However, Heinrich Wyngaard, Executive Chairman of the civil organisation Cape Forum expressed concern for how the crime scene was handled, per The Citizen.

In a letter, Wyngaard listed one of the Forum’s concerns as a senior officer of the Overberg district command unit apparently took control of the crime scene before the local police could investigate, and apparently despite the presence of the local station commander.

It was also said in the letter that the officer allegedly refused the local ambulance services access to the victim, which caused a delay in pronouncing the victim dead.

Anroux Marais, Minister of Police Oversight and Community Safety for the Western Cape, assured that the investigation was in the best hands.

“I realise that it’s not the easiest thing in light of the horrific nature of the events, the wide, honest and understandable upset in the community and especially the family, and the necessity of law and justice.

“However, it’s especially important now that the police are given the space to be able to do their work so that the perpetrator can be caught and successfully prosecuted.”

Principal Johan Jacobs confirmed that the school had added extra security, while the department also arranged social workers and counsellors for pupils affected by this horror.

The suspect briefly appeared in the Caledon Magistrate’s Court today (Monday), where he was not asked to plead and the case was postponed to 18 September, per News24.

The media was barred from entering the courtroom on Monday due to the accused being underage. He also cannot be named.

[sources:sowetanlive&citzien]