Double murder shocks schools

2005-08-05 22:07

Michelé O'Connor

Cape Town - The double murder of a deputy principal and her daughter has sent shockwaves through the city's northern suburbs.

Wilma Viljoen, 50, of Wolraad Woltemade Primary School in Bothasig, and her daughter, Alexa, 18, a matric pupil at Tygerberg High School, were shot dead at point-blank range in their house in Hamilton Street, Goodwood, on Thursday evening.

Captain Elliot Sinyangana said Viljoen and her daughter were shot at about 19:30.

Viljoen's body was found in the back garden with a bullet wound in the head and Alexa's body was found in the corridor of their home with bullet wounds in the head and back.

The bodies were found by a neighbour's son and police.

Viljoen's fiancé, Johannes du Toit of Ceres, was at the Viljoen house earlier in the evening. He has since disappeared.

Neighbours

Die Burger was told he asked neighbours to go to the house after the shootings as the two women were in need of help.

Elna de Kock, Viljoen's sister, said her sister's neighbours phoned her at about 22:00 on Thursday.

They had heard shots, but could not approach the house as nobody had a remote control to open the electronic gate, she said.

Viljoen's son, Emile, an engineering student at Cape Peninsula University of Technology, was not at home.

A neighbour's son later opened the gate.

Tygerberg High School principal Chris van der Westhuizen said Alexa was a spontaneous person and a popular pupil.

She was to have played the leading role next week in the school's musical, Bye-bye Birdie.

"Alexa's fellow players decided after a meeting to proceed with the show. They said this was what she would have expected of them.

"Her sudden death deeply shocked pupils and teachers alike. I sent the matrics home on Friday morning after a counselling session and also consultations with, and the approval of, the education department," he said.

Shocked

A shocked and distressed Danie Brink, principal of Wolraad Woltemade Primary, said Viljoen was not only a colleague and his right hand, but a true friend.

"She was a passionate, creative person who did not only lighten my load, but also took the interests of the school's pupils to heart.

"Mrs Viljoen has been a staff member since 1980. She was deputy principal and academic head for the past eight years.

"Wilma was everybody's friend. She was a gifted and creative person and was in charge of the choreography for the school's revue.

"Everybody - staff, parents, pupils and even the cleaners - are deeply shocked," he said.

It is believed Du Toit may be able to help police with their investigations and inspector Michael Shaw can be contacted at 021 591-4116.

Du Toit drives a silver Pajero 4x4 vehicle with the registration number CY 260020.

- Die Burger