A Kraaifontein school community is in mourning after a beloved teacher was brutally murdered at her home.
Helga van Wyk, 62, who taught Afrikaans at Monument Park High and her 65-year-old husband,
Advocate Johann van Wyk, were attacked while sleeping in their house in Protea Way in Durbanville on
Sunday night.
Helga was found with stab wounds to her chest in her bed and was declared dead.
According to police, Johann was also stabbed as he tried to help his wife.
He managed to get away from the attackers and drove himself to a local clinic for help.
Helga’s body was found in the early hours of Monday morning by her son, says police spokesperson, Captain FC van Wyk.
“Circumstances surrounding the death of a 62-year-old woman whose body was found by her son in the early hours of Monday morning in their home in Protea Way, Vierlanden, Durbanville, are under investigation.
ONNIE: Van Wyk taught at Monument Park high
“A murder case was registered for investigation. No arrests have been made yet.
“According to reports, the 65-year-old husband drove himself to a nearby hospital for medical treatment.”
Jessica Shelver, spokesperson for Education MEC Debbie Schäfer, confirms Helga was employed by the Western Cape Education Department.
“Our heartfelt condolences go to the teacher’s family, friends and school community. Counselling was provided for the learners and teachers who were affected by this tragic incident,” Shelver said.
GRIEVING: Pupils are in shock
Heartbroken staff and pupils at Monument Park High consoled each other after hearing of Helga’s murder.
A parent, Janeen Portela, says her son Davido Portela, 17, was devastated, and keeps listening to a voice note Helga had sent him last week.
“My son is severely traumatised. He keeps listening to the voice note over and over to hear her voice and bursts into tears every time,” she says.
“She was his motivation to a point where he did so well in his school work, he got her a chocolate to say thank you.”
A matric pupil said Helga had a heart of gold: “She was always full of smiles and made everyone feel good. She never failed to greet anyone. Monument Park will miss this bright, shining star.”