Missing Mokoena found alive and well

HONEYDEW – Resident Thabo Mokoena went missing on 2 July and was discovered in Orange Farm about three weeks after he disappeared.

His close friend Hendrik Visser said he lost all communication with Mokoena and was unsure about what to do initially, as Mokoena had disappeared with Visser’s car.

“We weren’t sure if we had to go to the police and open a missing persons case and say that the car was stolen.”

He said he gave in and went to the Honeydew Police Station a week after Mokoena had gone missing, where he opened a missing persons case.

“A flyer was sent out and I heard nothing back. Mokoena’s girlfriend became worried because – in a country like South Africa – when a person goes missing, it’s automatically assumed that they were killed or hi-jacked.”

Another week passed and Visser hadn’t heard from Mokoena after they left him voice mails, emails and whatsapp messages. “We thought the worst had happened and started giving up hope of ever finding him.”

A few days into Mokoena’s disappearance, Visser remembered that the vehicle he had lent Mokoena had a tracking unit installed.

“We called the tracking company, which said the vehicle was somewhere in Orange Farm. They tracked down the vehicle and discovered that Mokoena was still alive and well.”

According to Visser, he met a new girlfriend and decided that he wanted to be with her – and forgot about his worried ex-girlfriend and family members.

“I think what he did was wrong – not to let us know that he was still alive. But he is still a friend of mine and I’m glad that he is still alive.”

All attempts to contact Mokoena for comment were unsuccessful.