GRAAFF-REINET NEWS — The Graaff-Reinet community was shocked and saddened this week to hear of the tragic death of Elmaré Kotze, General Manager of the Drostdy Hotel.
According to Andy Nold, Operations Director of the Newmark Hotels group, her body was discovered by an ex-colleague who went to Kotze’s home late on Tuesday afternoon.
They called the police and ambulance services, but sadly she was already unresponsive.
Nold told the Advertiser of the terrible shock he felt when he was contacted by one of the hotel’s managers with the news on Tuesday afternoon.
He left Cape Town early on Wednesday morning to travel to Graaff-Reinet, to console and support the traumatised staff, and also to meet with management to map out the way forward for the hotel. “As general manager, Kotze was a central figure at the hotel and a leader of the business. She was a very highly valued and hard-working employee, and will be greatly missed. We extend our deepest condolences to her family, friends and colleagues”.
Kotze and her husband Gerrie moved to Graaff-Reinet in the middle of last year when she took up her post at the Drostdy, joining Newmark (the owners of the hotel) from the Sun International group.
Her husband passed away a few months ago from a terminal illness, and she was living on her own at her home in Bourke Street.
Police confirmed that a suicide docket had been opened and that 49-year-old Kotze was found on her bed at her home.
A suicide note was found, and the police suspect that she had taken an overdose of medication.
Their investigation is ongoing.
'We bring you the latest Graaff-Reinet, Karoo news'
