Erlilo Byl, a netball player and coach, went missing on 14 January 2024. His body was found three days later on Tabakbaai beach in Saldanha Bay. (Photo: Supplied) On Tuesday, 24 June, the Vredenburg Regional Court sentenced Wesley Snyders to an effective 25 years’ imprisonment after confessing to murdering Erlilo Byl, known as Rico, a well-known member of the LGBTQIA+ community in Saldhana Bay who coached netball at local schools.
Snyders, who was 18 years old at the time of the murder, confessed that he murdered Byl following a plea and sentence agreement with the State.
Snyders confessed that between 14 and 17 January 2024, he unlawfully and intentionally killed Byl by stabbing him all over his body and assaulting him with a rock.
Byl went missing on Sunday, 14 January 2024. His body was found on Wednesday, 17 January 2024, among the rocks near Tabakbaai beach. Snyders claimed that he and the deceased agreed to have sex at the beach in Saldanha. After they had sex, he decided to rob Byl of his cellphone.
The court ordered Snyders to serve two-thirds of the 25-year direct imprisonment sentence before he could be placed on parole.
In a statement, Western Cape NPA spokesperson Eric Ntabazalila outlined the details of Snyders’ confession.
He said Snyders confirmed that “although he was under the influence of drugs, he could still differentiate between right and wrong and act in accordance with such appreciation. He further admitted that he at all material times intended to rob and subsequently kill Byl.”
According to Ntabazalila, the accused exhibited genuine remorse. The guilty plea spared the State the expense and inconvenience of a protracted trial.
He said the murder “had a traumatic effect on [Byl’s] family and friends”.
A valued member of the community
Latiefa Ehrenreich told Daily Maverick that she was happy with the court outcome.
“The sentencing was a glorious day and a success story. Every time we went to court, the case was postponed. One day, I said, ‘Enough is enough.’ We went door to door for a few days, collecting over 2,000 signatures and drafting a petition to the court. On Tuesday, we saw the results of that when people came together.”
Ehrenreich said that on the evening Byl went missing, his mother, Mona Byl, went to the police station because while her son enjoyed going for walks, he always returned home. Sleeping out was unusual for him.
Mona Byl was distraught and not in a position to speak to media on Wednesday.
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When Mona’s mother told Ehrenreich on Monday, 15 January 2024, that Byl hadn’t come home, Ehrenreich quickly rounded up people and started searching the street and the beach. The search continued until Wednesday, 17 January 2024, when the police joined in.
“A member of our search team found Rico’s body. He was severely assaulted, which is one of the reasons why his coffin wasn’t opened at his funeral,” she said.
She said that the community rallied around Byl’s mother to help host his funeral.
“I do catering, and we went everywhere because we wanted to give him a dignified burial. Rico was a beautiful boy who went to school with my children, and he was an asset to the Diazville community,” said Ehrenreich.
“He participated in sports at all the schools in Diazville. He coached learners at the primary schools in netball. Members of the Western Cape Education Department also attended his funeral,” she said.
She said the community accepted and loved Byl.
Other Tabakbaai horrors
Tabakbaai beach has been dubbed “Die Begraafplaas” (The Grave) by residents of Saldanha Bay due to the number of bodies found along this popular holiday resort and beach strip.
One of the most horrible murder scenes was that of Autumnsney Jansen, 19, also known as Tamsin, whose naked body was found by a resident of Diazville on 27 April 2024.
Zenobia Jansen, Jansen’s mother, told Daily Maverick: “I cannot forget her horrible death and the fact that no one has been arrested. Every time a body is found on Tabakbaai beach, it opens old wounds.”
Another body found on this beach strip was that of Fillda Vaughen, 34, of Diazville, who was found partially naked on 18 May 2023. She had been strangled, and a video of her lifeless body quickly spread on social media.
Police confirmed that no arrests had been made for the murders of Jansen and Vaughen.
/file/dailymaverick/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/467666891_10160633092747031_7358032714147592170_n.jpg "Montescha Kekana disappeared in Diazville, Saldanha on 21 May 2009. She was 10 years old at the time. Her body has never been found. (Image: Facebook)")
A case that still haunts the area is that of Montescha Kekana, who disappeared in Diazville, Saldanha on 21 May 2009. She was 10 years old at the time.
She was last seen walking with accused Cecil Kockrell towards Tabakbaai beach where she was purportedly raped and strangled. Her body has never been found. In November 2021, Cecil Kockrell was sentenced to 15 years for murder and life in prison for rape. DM