Family remembers Louise de Waal

2011-10-14 14:08

Johannesburg - High school pupil Louise de Waal was a kind, gentle and loving girl who was hoping to study tourism, her family said on Friday.

"She could relate to children and friends as effortlessly as she could to adults. She was an exemplary student... and was recently voted in as a prefect for her final year of schooling," the family said in a statement.

"Our little light was extinguished before she had any chance to shine by a vile and savage act of violence."

"Weezy", as she was affectionately known, would have turned 17 on Sunday. A burnt body, believed to be hers, was found on a farm in Magaliesburg on Wednesday.

A 35-year-old man allegedly kidnapped De Waal in Roodepoort, northwest of Johannesburg, on Wednesday morning before reportedly raping and killing her.

He handed himself in at the Margate police station, in KwaZulu-Natal, on Thursday morning. He was then transported to an undisclosed facility in Johannesburg and was due to appear in the Krugersdorp Magistrate's Court on Monday.

"Our family is extremely distraught and we are all pulling together from around the country to try and provide support to each other through this devastating time," the family said.

"The family would like to extend their thanks to everyone around South Africa who have taken the time to show their overwhelming support by posting messages on Facebook, Twitter, BBM and other social media platforms."

The family had decided not to comment further to protect the integrity of the investigation.

Gauteng Education MEC Barbara Creecy would visit them on Friday to offer condolences.

- SAPA