Two boys missing days after 5-year-old found dead
Unlike the five-year-old Mathew Olivier, these boys were found in good health.
Two boys disappeared on 30 December just two days after five-year-old Mathew Olivier’s body was found, leaving their community and family members petrified. They disappeared within seconds and could not be found until the following day.
The three and five-year-old were last seen playing outside their homes in Tshepisong in Kagiso. When their parents could not find them again they alerted the police.
“The police’s K9 unit, Family Violence, Child Protection and Sexual Offences (FCS) Unit and other police units were deployed to search for the children,” police spokesperson, Captain Appel Ernst, said.
Police continued the search throughout the night until the following day when the two boys turned up at the Kagiso police station.
“The boys were brought to the station by a member of the community, Thapelo Masela, who said his son found them wandering in the Swanieville area. They were found more than two kilometres from their home,” she said.
They boys tried to go back home, but could not remember the way.
“When night fell, Masela provided food and shelter to the two boys, who apparently did not seem very concerned,” Ernst explained.
Masela and his neighbours arranged transport to the police station on New Year’s Eve morning, where they were united with their mothers.
“The FCS members were visibly relieved when they saw the boys reunited with their mothers. They were the same team that worked on Mathew’s case,” she said.
The acting Kagiso Station Commander, Colonel Thinus Swart, personally thanked Masela and the community of Swanieville who ensured the safety of the two adventurous boys.
But he urged parents to be vigilant and watchful when their children are playing outside.
“Children can disappear in seconds so please make sure you know their whereabouts at all times,” he said.
Read more:
• UPDATE: Missing boy’s body found
• What to do when your child goes missing
