Two high school students found murdered at their hostel in South Africa; an ex-boyfriend arrested

A 19-year-old man has appeared in the Vryburg Magistrate’s Court in connection with the murder of two girls at the Stella High School hostel in the North West, South Africa.

According to the police, the lifeless bodies of Marna Engelbrecht‚ 17‚ and Sharnelle Hough‚ 16, were discovered last Saturday at the Stella High School hostel by the matron.

The suspect (pictured) who is believed to be an ex-boyfriend of one of the victims‚ will spend the next two months behind bars as police investigations continue.

Lieutenant Colonel Amanda Funani said the youngster appeared in court on Monday and his case was postponed to August 6. The suspect is yet to plead.

“According to information received the two girls were alone in the girls’ hostel‚” said Funani.

“The bodies of the pair were discovered by the hostel matron. First the matron found the body of the 17-year-old hanging from the rails of the staircase in the hostel. She alerted the school management and the police were summoned.
“Upon investigation‚ the police discovered the second body with a string around her neck at the hostel’s bathroom.”

“Subsequent to a thorough investigation,  a 19-year-old man who is believed to be an ex-boyfriend of one of the girls was arrested. The motive of the incident is unknown at this stage and investigation into the matter continues,” Funani said.

Meanwhile, the South African National Civic Organisation (Sanco) in the North West have questioned how a culprit gained access to a girls’ hostel to commit a double murder‚ when there was supposed to be 24-hour security at the premises.

The organisation has expressed shock at the murder of two Stella High School teenage girls who were found hanged in their school hostel.

“We need answers as to why nobody heard any commotion or realised that something was amiss until the bodies were discovered‚” Sanco’s provincial chairperson Paul Sebegoe emphasised.

“We condemn in the strongest terms possible the heinous and ghastly acts‚ and trust that the arrested suspect will be denied bail. He should face the wrath of the law if he is found to be responsible for the outrageous murders which have sent a shockwave across the country‚” said Sebegoe.