It might have be seven years since the Mokoena family of Jerusalem last saw their father, Bennet Mantongomane Mokoena, but they still hope to find closure after all these years.
Mokoena’s daughter, Grace, said her family need to know what happened to their father who disappeared while he was on his way to attend a family gathering on November 26, 2014. “He disappeared while going to attend a tombstone unveiling ceremony for a family member in the cemetery in Jerusalem,” said Grace.
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She revealed on that fateful day her father left her mother behind because she was not feeling well to join the rest of the family members a few kilometres from their home. Her father never arrived at the event and no one knows what happened to him.
“I remember looking for him among the crowd at the cemetery, but he was not there. We reported his disappearance to the Masoyi Police Station. We even looked for him in various hospitals, mortuaries and at relatives in other places,” she said.
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Samples of Mokoena’s DNA have been sent for laboratory tests by the police forensic unit.
“We also rushed to the scene. We thought it might be him because he used the same route to the cemetery on the day he disappeared. But we will wait for the police investigation and the results of the DNA test. Our wish is to find him still alive. If not, we wish to give him a decent funeral to get closure,” she said.
Cllr Ezuel Mbuyane of Ward 8 in Jerusalem said two boys who had been hunting in the bush made the discovery. He assumed that they might be those of a male, as a black belt and toned trousers were found on the scene. The skull was also found near the bones.
“All relevant law enforcers, including the police and the forensic unit, were called to the scene. We advise anyone with a missing relative to contact Masoyi Police Station,” he said.
