Little boy from Pienaar still missing
The search for the six-year-old Junior Mabandla is still ongoing. The community of Pienaar has rallied behind the family during their desperate search.
It has been over a week since the six-year-old Junior Mabandla had gone missing, and there’s still no trace of his whereabouts.
According to the police and his parents, Junior was last seen at midday on Monday June 3 when he had gone out to buy some sweets at a local spaza shop. He was last seen wearing a blue jersey and black trousers.
Even though the police said they had begun looking for this missing boy as soon as they were informed, Junior’s parents and the entire Pienaar community believe the police aren’t doing enough to trace him.
This led to them taking their frustration to the streets on Thursday June 6, when they barricaded roads with burning tyres, stones and debris, demanding a speedy and efficient search by the police. Some even took to social media, calling for the suspended ANC treasurer and MEC of co-operative governance and traditional affairs, Mandla Msibi, to help search for the boy.
They said Msibi is a Pienaar resident whose involvement in the search would help finding the missing boy.
ALSO READ: Mpumalanga Hawks hunt suspects following Mhala cash-in-transit heist
Reacting to these calls, Msibi joined the family and community members as the search continued. He also appealed to the community not to protest, as this makes it difficult for the police and other members of the public who want to join in the search.
“This is a sad and painful experience for any parent to ever go through. This is the reason why we are here to support the family and help search for their missing child. As a member of this community, I would like to plead with anyone who might know or have heard something that may help us trace the boy to come forward, either to the police or directly to the family or even myself,” he said.
“Such incidents are not only inhumane and painful to the victims’ families, but they also defeat our gains and progress in the fight against crime in Pienaar as we try to make this a better place for everyone. We are just praying and hoping that the little boy is safe wherever he is, but we will do everything in our power to help find him and get answers.”
Junior’s father, Solly Mabandla, said they were still in shock and puzzled by this incident when this paper visited the family on Thursday June 6. He also appealed for help and information that may lead to them finding their son. “We need all the help we can get at this point,” he said.
ALSO READ: Stakeholders and community to meet in Steenbok to discuss cross-border crime
Shockingly enough, some people seemed to have turned this situation into a quick money-making scheme. Mabandla showed this paper some WhatsApp messages from an unknown person claiming to know where the little boy is, but demanded that he be bought a Betway voucher before he would give any information.
A provincial police spokesperson, Colonel Donald Mdhluli, also appealed for calm and asked the community to let the police proceed with the search.
If you have any information, contact the Family Violence, Child Protection and Sexual Offences Unit’s commander, Lieutenant Colonel Tinyiko Mnisi, on 082 079 2237, or the Crime Stop number on 08600 10111.
