#HelpFindLee: Family pleads for Roodepoort toddler’s safe return
'We just want him back – he is only three years old'
The search for the missing three-year-old who was allegedly abducted in Roodekrans, has been intensified, and all avenues are being investigated by the police.
“We are pleading for his safe return – he is only three years old,” said an emotional Estelle Delport.
She is the representative for the family of the missing three-year-old Liyaqat ‘Lee’ Mentoor, who was allegedly abducted on 16 March.
Delport added that they were told that Lee was taken by a couple in a silver vehicle and said, “Lee’s mother’s boyfriend was looking after Lee on the day in question, like he did every day, and was supposed to drop him off at his grandmother’s house in Roodekrans at about 5pm, but did not do so. He went to drop Lee off at about 1pm, without informing the grandmother that he was on his way.
Read the initial article here: Roodepoort toddler missing
According to him, when they arrived, there was nobody at home, and a silver vehicle, which might have been a Volkswagen Polo or Golf hatchback, was standing in the driveway. As he approached, a woman got out and said her name was Vanessa, and that they were members of the family. They asked the boyfriend to give Lee to them, as they were on their way to pick up his mother at Westgate.
But, this is all hearsay, and we cannot be sure if this is really how it happened.”
Since his disappearance, the community has come out in numbers to assist security companies, patrollers, paramedics, and the police’s K9 unit in their search for Lee.
According to a post on the Roodepoort crime reaction unit’s Facebook page, a search party was out in full force on 17 and 18 March, and the spokesperson for the Roodepoort Police, Sergeant Juliet Mogale, confirmed this. “We are still searching for the missing boy, and a search party will be going out again today. Unfortunately we do not have the vehicle’s registration number, but will do everything in our power to ensure this case is investigated and solved,” she said.
Lee is slender, with dark brown hair and eyes, and a birthmark on his chest. When last seen, he was wearing a thick grey winter jacket, a red top, black tracksuit pants and black rubber boots with white soles.
If anyone has seen him, or has more information, please contact the Johannesburg West FCS unit on 060 502 0695 or Captain Pretorius on 082 447 3984. Alternatively, contact Wendy on 064 648 1577, Priya on 076 681 5838 or Faaiza on 083 358 9472.
The Pink Ladies can also be contacted on 072 214 7439, 083 378 4882 or 072 620 7704.
Delport concluded by saying, “We are grateful to each and everyone who is helping us search for Lee. At the moment, the only thing we can do is stand together as a family. We need to know where he is and exactly what happened. Please, whoever took him, please bring him back.”
Do you perhaps have more information pertaining to this story? Email us at roodepoortrecord@caxton.co.za (remember to include your contact details) or phone us on 011 955 1130.
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