It has emerged that missing teenagers Brittany Barnes (17) and Ripfumelo Khosa (16) attend the same church in Robin Hills, although neither of them were regulars and no connection between the two has been established yet.
Read: Randburg’s two teens still missing
New Creation Family Church pastor, Grant Walton confirmed that Barnes had been attending with her parents sporadically for some time, but Khosa, who attended with his mother, came less frequently and it was only discovered on 23 April that he attended the church on several occasions.
Read: Another teen goes missing in Randburg
Walton said there was no contact between the two at the church that he, the volunteers and staff were aware of, but they could not speak of what might have happened outside the church.
He added the church had been supporting Barnes’ parents, linking them with people and organisations that find missing persons, and would now do the same for Khosa’s family.
Khosa went missing from his home in Valley Road, Robin Hills, not far from the church, on 5 April. He was wearing a blue T-shirt and grey adidas tekkies when he was last seen.
Barnes disappeared after going for a walk outside her home in Randpark Ridge almost two weeks later on 17 April.
Barnes’ father, Andrew, described her as an ‘outgoing, energetic person’ and said the support he and his wife, Elaine, have received from the public, Honeydew Police, the Honeydew Community Policing Forum and The Pink Ladies Organisation for Missing Children , had been great.
Also read: UPDATE: Parents describe missing 17 year old as ‘outgoing and energetic’
He said his daughter did not go for walks that often, but sometimes jogged up and down the quiet roads near the home for half an hour to an hour.
Honeydew police spokesperson, Captain Balan Muthan said missing persons cases are open, and the matters are under investigation.
“Anyone who has information about their whereabouts should please come forward,” he said.
Details: Honeydew Police 011 801 8613/4/5
