Broadcast journalist Alan Ford has brazenly called out St Stithians for covering up the actions of former matriculant, Ethan Coezee, who is believed to have died in a murder-suicide involving his girlfriend, Cameron Waldeck-Cooks, this week.
The teen couple’s death has rocked the country with allegations that gender-based violence was behind the double tragedy.
ST STITHIANS FACES FLAK OVER APPROACH TO TEEN COUPLE’S DEATH
On his Facebook account, Alan Ford criticised St Stithians for the manner in which they handled the deaths of Ethan Coetzee and Cameron Waldeck-Cooks.
Ethan was a matriculant in 2025 who played first team rugby, while Cameron was in Grade 11.
He boldly claimed: “The murderer was hailed a hero while his female victim got little air time from their school! And don’t people dare defend the school involved!
“St Stithians College’s initial public outpouring of grief for its student – including the way the two young people were presented together – created, in my view, an impression that did not adequately reflect the deeply troubling circumstances that were already the subject of speculation and investigation.
Ford claimed that the school did not acknowledge the claims made by Cameron Waldeck-Cooks’ family, and particularly her brother, also named Ethan.
He continued: “This also raises a much bigger and uncomfortable conversation about boys’ schools, masculinity, privilege and accountability. We have seen controversies involving prestigious boys’ schools before, including allegations of institutional cultures where unacceptable behaviour can be minimised, protected or dealt with behind closed doors.
“I am not suggesting that every boy educated at these schools behaves this way — of course not. But when tragedy strikes, reputation and sporting achievement can never be allowed to overshadow accountability or the life of a young woman.
“Cameron Waldeck-Cooks was 17 years old. Her life matters. Her family’s voice matters.
St Stithians now needs to listen carefully to what her family is saying, reconsider the optics and messaging surrounding this tragedy, and ensure that its public narrative reflects the seriousness and complexity of what has emerged.
“The focus cannot simply be on the loss of a ‘star rugby player’.
“There are two families grieving, one the family of a victim and the second a family of her murderer (who, after strangling and suffocating her, cowardly killed himself) “
Alan Ford continued to criticise St Stithians for hosting a rugby tournament on Women’s Day weekend, where players did not wear armbands or hold a minute’s silence to acknowledge the tragedy.
“Brushed under the carpet like the cowards their governing body and school administrators are proving to be!”, he added.
HONOURING CAMERON WALDECK-COOKS ON WOMEN’S DAY
Meanwhile, St Stithians has paid tribute to Cameon Waldeck-Cooks in a Women’s Day post.
The private school stated that its campuses were in “profound mourning” following the loss of Cameron, described as a “deeply loved young woman in our Saints family”
“Our thoughts are especially with her family today, as our school and our nation honour the women and young women who enrich our lives and communities.
Reflecting on the significance of the day, the school continued: “Today, we honour the courage of those women and acknowledge the progress made through their efforts and the work of the generations that followed. We also recognise that much remains to be done to achieve genuine equality, dignity and justice for all.
“As a St Stithians community, we reaffirm our commitment to continuing that work”.
