Cape Town - Pupils and staff at the Constantia school attended by the 16-year-old who was found dead near Tokai Forest on Monday held a prayer meeting in her honour on Tuesday morning.
On Tuesday morning Kirstenhof Crime Watch vice-chairwoman Carolynne Franklin and others identified the schoolgirl as Franziska Blöchliger.
Police spokesman Lieutenant-Colonel André Traut said on Tuesday morning that the murder was “still under investigation”.
On Monday night Traut confirmed the body was found in Dennendal Road. He said the teenager had possibly been strangled.
Traut said the girl had been reported missing a few hours before her body was found. “She was reported missing earlier after going jogging and failing to return.”
The police spokesman said there had been no arrests.
It is understood Franziska lived in Kalk Bay and was walking with family members and their dog near the forest when she went jogging off in a different direction.
When they could not find her they raised the alarm just after 4pm.
A large search was conducted before her body was found.
Franklin said there had been a few muggings, attempted muggings and car break-ins in the area over the past few years but nothing like this murder.
“The area has been hit by petty crime recently but we have beefed up patrols,” she said.
Franklin advised people to walk in large groups in the area.
Constantia Waldorf School co-ordinator Denise Janssens said pupils and staff had gathered on Tuesday morning and a pastor had conducted a prayer.
“Everyone at the school is devastated by what happened,” she said.
Janssens said they were still “in shock” and they were not sure at this stage what further steps the school would take.
Merle Collins, spokeswoman for SANParks which manages the forest, said on Monday night that management was shocked by the incident.
“It’s a huge shock. Tokai Forest is an extremely popular and well-used place. We are also still waiting for answers.”
She confirmed on Tuesday morning that there had been muggings in the the area but nothing like this tragedy.
Collins said they would look at beefing up security in the area.
On Twitter, people expressed distress, wanting to find out more about what had taken place.
Rachelle tweeted: “Am devastated that a young girl was apparently killed in Tokai forest just before I got there earlier. My heart bleeds for her family.”