Atarah Katzeff (22), was found dead in her room at the academy on the farm, Franschoek, on Sunday, July 28. The Herald can confirm that the suspected cause of death at this stage in the investigation is strangulation and that the investigation has been updated from an inquest to a murder investigation. 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. Col Malesela Ledwaba, media liaison for the police in Limpopo, confirmed on Tuesday that a case of murder is being investigated. “Initially an inquest was opened. After the results from the autopsy and postmortem were received by the investigating officer, the inquest was changed to murder,” said Ledwaba.

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He said that the suspected cause of death is strangulation and confirmed that the case is being investigated by the police in Haenertsburg. According to sources who were at the crime scene, her room was in pristine condition with no signs of forced entry, and nothing was stolen from the premises. 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, and René Viljoen, training director at Warriors Academy, 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.

The family has appointed Privadect (Pty) Ltd, an internationally recognised private investigation company to investigate Katzeff’s death. Privadect adheres to a strict policy of nondisclosure of any information while conducting an investigation. Anyone who would like to assist the investigators with an anonymous tip-off can go to www.communitycrimeproject. com to contact Privadect and the investigating team.

On Monday evening a community meeting for Magoebaskloof (Sector 5) was held to discuss security and safety in the area. To join the Haenertsburg Magoebaskloof Watch or to volunteer for patrols in Magoebaskloof, contact Kurt Wacker at 083 326 5836.