A double murder in Sakhasonke Village, Walmer, has left the Collegiate Girls’ High School community grieving after learning one of their beloved learners, 19-year-old Hailie-Jade Coboza, and her mother were brutally gunned down on Thursday evening, May 1.
According to police, the incident occurred at approximately 20:30 when SAPS Walmer officers responded to reports of gunfire in the Walmer location. Upon arrival, they discovered the two victims with multiple gunshot wounds. Both were pronounced dead at the scene.
During the crime scene investigation, swift police work led by the Nelson Mandela Bay District Detective Intervention Task Team and SAPS members of Operation Bamba resulted in the arrest of four suspects. Captain Sandra Janse Van Rensburg, SAPS spokesperson, confirmed that the suspects face charges of murder, conspiracy to commit murder, and possession of unlicensed firearms and ammunition.
“Information gathered at the scene enabled SAPS members to trace a suspect to Dora Nginza Hospital, where he was being treated for injuries to his leg. Investigations linked him to the double murder. Three additional suspects were subsequently arrested at a residence in Greenshields Park, where a Mossberg 12-gauge shotgun and a box of 9mm ammunition were also confiscated,” said Janse Van Rensburg.
The suspects, aged between 28 and 46, appeared in the Gqeberha Magistrate’s Court today, Monday, May 5. The motive for the murders remains under investigation.
At Collegiate Girls’ High School, where Hailie-Jade was a Grade 12 learner, staff and students were devastated by the tragic news. In a heartfelt letter addressed to the school community, Principal Louise Erasmus extended her condolences to the family and outlined plans to honour Hailie-Jade’s life and legacy.
“We will hold a special assembly to honour Hailie-Jade’s presence in our school, to express our sorrow, and to draw strength from standing together as a community,” Erasmus wrote. She added that the school’s counselling team would be available to support learners as they process their grief. “We continue to hold Hailie-Jade’s family in our thoughts and prayers as they face the unimaginable loss of both Hailie-Jade and her mother.”
A quiet tribute space has also been created around the school’s Courage sculpture, where learners may leave flowers, messages, or simply pause to reflect. Erasmus encouraged learners to lean on each other and not to process their grief alone.
SAPS echoed its commitment to bringing justice to Hailie-Jade and her mother. Janse Van Rensburg added, “The rapid arrests in this case are a testament to the dedication of our officers and the ongoing efforts of Operation Bamba. We will continue to investigate this matter thoroughly to uncover the circumstances surrounding this horrific crime.”
Erasmus concluded, “Our school will walk gently through this time together. Hailie-Jade’s memory will forever remain a part of our family.”
