Amahle is still missing
In the last year, we have been bombarded with cases of children who were reported missing. They were either found dead or never found.
Kwatsaduza –Recent national statistics indicate that a child goes missing every five hours
According to the recent figures released by the South African Police Service Missing Persons Bureau, 77% of children were found while at least 23% of them were either never found or trafficked or found dead.
Kwatsaduza is no exception to this.
In the last year we have been bombarded with cases of children who were reported missing were some were either found dead or never found at all.
Also read:
Some of the cases that caught everyone’s attention in the area included that of four-year-old Bokamoso Tsotetsi from Duduza who was reported missing. Her body was found a day later by a passerby in Spaarwater Dam.
In May, the body of nine-year-old Ntokozo Ginya, who went missing while playing in the streets of Bluegumview, Duduza, was found floating in a body of the water in Masechaba Section five days after the case was reported to the Duduza police.
This year, four days into the new year, the body of Phumzile Vilakazi (13) was found in an open veld in Extension 14.
This was after she was reported missing by her family on January 2.
One case that is still a mystery to the family and residents of Kwatsaduza is that of Amahle Thabethe (9).
The Grade 3 learner went missing in April while playing with friends two blocks away from her home.
It is alleged by her friends that she left with an unknown man who asked for directions.
It is eleven months since she went missing, and police say there is no new information coming to the fore as to where she might have disappeared to.
Springs police spokesperson Sgt Johannes Ramphora confirmed that investigations are still underway.
Also read:
Eleven-year-old goes missing in Skoonplaas
“We have followed each and every tip-off we have received, but nothing positive has come out of it this far.
“Investigations are still underway, and we are calling on anyone with information that might lead to her kidnappers to come forward,” he adds.
Amahle’s distraught mother, Nokulunga Nkosi, is pleading with her daughter’s abductors to bring her back.
“Almost a year later, I still can’t eat or sleep wondering whether she is safe, or the abductors are hurting her.
“I have been in and out of hospital diagnosed with severe depression and anxiety ever since she went missing.
“As a mother, I feel like I have failed her for not protecting her on the day she went missing.
“I am also battling with thoughts that wherever she is, she is waiting for me to rescue her.
“I no longer care whether she is still alive or dead, all I want is to know what happened to her and find closure,” she says.
Tsakane police spokesperson, Sgt Lerato Mngomezulu shared some of the tips for parents to teach their children.
• Always know where your child is, what they’re wearing and who they’re with.
• Know your child’s friends including names, addresses and telephone numbers.
• Teach your children their names, address, your name and telephone number.
• Teach your child never to trust strangers.
• They should never go with anyone if not instructed by you, and should never accept gifts from people they don’t know.
• Teach your children to report to you if there are any suspicious cars or people following them.
•Go to your nearest police station and take a recent photograph of the child with you.
•Give a good description of what the child was wearing, their last whereabouts and any information that may help the police.
• Remember that if your child returns home, you’ll have to go to the police station to report that the child was found.
She urged parents not wait for 24 hours to report your missing child; the case should be reported immediately to your local police station
Follow us on:
