Evashni Jansen
“We last saw him 5 months ago.” So says Barbs Clements of her brother, Charles Burrell, who went missing in October last year. Charles ‘Chico’ Burrell (74) is a resident of Promosa and, according to his sister, he disappeared just before he was supposed to collect his pension.
“We know that if he does not return before payday, something is very wrong,” said Barbs. “Our fear has now become reality as he never came back,” she added. According to Barbs, they have heard so many rumours of where he may be. “We’ve heard many stories and we have followed so many leads but there is still nothing,” she says. Barbs says her other two brothers were out looking for Charles just last Saturday. “They went to Warrenton because someone claimed to have seen him there, and it was all for nothing,” she says.
According to Johannes, their younger brother who also conducted the search in the Northern Cape, they drove up and down looking for him without success. “The week after New Year, my brothers were on the road again, this time to Barkly West. They were chasing another lead that we received,” she says. “Every time we hear stories of where he might be, we follow them up, and every time it’s in vain,” she added.
The family has been to Ventersdorp and Johannesburg in search of their brother. “I’m not even considering that something has happened to him. I trust in God, that’s it… There’s nothing more I can do but trust in God,” Barbs concluded.
A missing person’s case has been opened at the SAPS. The family asks that if anyone has seen Charles Burrell, they should contact Barbs at 079 186 1482 or Johannes at 079 786 7393
