The family of 16-year-old Channelle Plaatjies has confirmed that her body was found buried in a shallow grave in Paarl East, Western Cape.
Her identity was verified on Tuesday following DNA test results. The teenager had been missing since 14 May 2025, and was only reported missing two weeks later, on 28 May, as her family initially believed she would return home on her own.
DNA confirms family’s worst fears
According to the police, DNA tests conducted on a body discovered earlier this month have confirmed it is Channelle Plaatjies. The body was found on 2 June after her sisters came across one of her shoes in a wooded area, about a kilometre from their home.
This led them to alert authorities, who then discovered a shallow grave nearby.
Police spokesperson Captain FC van Wyk stated:
“Be advised that the DNA results were received on Tuesday and confirmed that the body of a female discovered buried in the woods in Paarl East near the prison is indeed 16-year-old Channelle Plaatjies. Investigation continues.”
Channelle’s elder sister, Melleney Hugo, expressed the family’s sorrow and their request for space to mourn.
“We have had meetings the whole day, and all we want to do as the family is to mourn Channelle and arrange her funeral,” she said.
The Rural and Farmworkers Development Organisation has stepped in to assist the family. Chairperson Billy Classenassured them that they will not have to cover funeral costs:
“We will take care of everything, from arranging the funeral to the burial.”
The exact cause of death has not yet been confirmed, and no suspects have been named. The police investigation is ongoing, and they are appealing to the public for any information.
Channelle’s family is now calling on the police to handle this case with care and avoid delays, referencing past frustrations over other child murder investigations.
“We don’t want to find ourselves years from now asking questions about Channelle’s cold case. This is our only request to the police,” said a family representative.
