The Durbanville community is grappling with shock and grief following the death of 14-year-old Zac Barends, the son of television personality Isabel Barends, reports Cape {town} Etc.
Zac, a Grade 9 learner at Hoërskool Stellenberg, died on Wednesday, 11 March 2026. According to reports, the teenager’s parents discovered him unresponsive in his bedroom that morning after his school alarm continued ringing.
While it has yet to be confirmed officially, the circumstances surrounding his death have been widely reported as a suspected suicide.
His mother, Isabel Barends – known for presenting the VIA television show My plek of joune – told Netwerk24 that her son had not shown signs of depression, making the loss particularly shocking for the family and those who knew him.
News of Zac’s passing was shared with learners during a school assembly at Hoërskool Stellenberg on Wednesday, where the school community began grappling with the tragedy.
In a tribute shared on social media, the school wrote that it had ‘said goodbye to Zac Barends today,’ adding that ‘words feel scarce, and our tears are many.’
Tributes have also come from Gene Louw Primary School, where Zac previously attended, with the school extending condolences and prayers to the Barends family during what it described as an incredibly difficult time.
The tragedy has also deeply affected the broader Durbanville community, with many residents expressing their grief and support for the family.
A memorial service for Zac is expected to take place at Logos Christian Church in Bellville on Wednesday, 18 March.
The Barends family has asked for privacy as they mourn the loss of their son.
If you or someone you know is struggling with suicidal thoughts or emotional distress, help is available. In South Africa, the Suicide Crisis Line can be reached on 0800 567 or 082 787 6542.
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Picture: Michail Rassool / Facebook
