MISSING Boy (13): Where’s my son?

“I just want him to come home safely.”

These are the words of the mother of the 13-year-old Oratile Kgaswane who’s been missing for a week. She said wherever her child was, she hoped it wasn’t too late for him.

Read initial article here: Rappies learner goes missing

The 13-year-old Oratile, a Grade 6 Laerskool Rapportryer learner went missing on Wednesday April 27. He disappeared from his home.

His now distraught and anxious mother, Jackie Kgaswane, 37, said she last saw her son when she was leaving their home for work that morning. Oratile who was still in his pyjamas was watching TV and eating his breakfast.

Wednesday May 4 marked exactly a week since Oratile had gone missing without a trace; this is despite an extensive search by the police, The Carletonville Family Violence, Child Protection and Sexual Offences Unit, members of the community and other organisations who were helping the family.

Sergeant Carmen Hendricks, Randfontein Police spokesperson confirmed to the Herald that a case of a missing person had been opened.

Kgaswane said with the help of the community they’d searched in different places – walking from Randfontein CBD, at playgrounds, his friends – but there’s still no sign of him and every day without him caused distress.

You won’t believe it, but I’ve been everywhere looking for him, even at different police stations. I have been to his school twice, in the morning and afternoon, just in case he’s there,” the mother said.

The single mother who runs a business said she’s been battling with running her shop as she kept wondering where eldest son could be; a son with whom she’s been close since he was a baby; a good child who’s focused and does school work consistently without being monitored.

The distraught mother said for the past week, she has been asking herself what had happened to her child, whether he had eaten, if he was feeling cold, if he’s safe, but most of all where was he? When was he coming back home?

I don’t want to even speak about what the worst might be for us; he’s a child and might be very vulnerable for whatever may be out there. This is all creating anxiety for me and my family. The only thing I’d like to say is I just want my son back; I hope we’ll soon see him safe and sound,” the mother said.