The family of a pensioner who went missing five years ago says although they have not lost hope, they will settle for closure.
Gerhardus Petrus “Jollie” Pretorius was a resident at Klein Helderkruin Retirement Village when he disappeared on 9 September 2011. According to his niece Cornelia Rudman, Jollie, as he was known to everyone, was in the habit to everyday walk from Helderkruin to his sister in Maraisburg. Rudman said this was because he was a boxer in his young days and extremely fit. In the days leading up to his disappearance he told friends he was “regularly threatened when walking”.
On the fateful date he arrived at his sister’s residence but was told by friends that due to her worsening Alzheimer’s disease, she was taken to a frail care facility. Jollie left but never arrived back home.
The disappearance of her uncle led to Rudman starting South African Search and Rescue (SASR). Rudman never gave up and continued her search. At one stage she received information that her uncle, who she suspects was in the early stages of Alzheimer’s disease, was taken in by an old woman who who lived in an informal settlement. According to the source the old woman and her son took very good care of Jollie but he once again went missing. Rudman could unfortunately not establish which informal settlement.
Jollie’s family is nou appealing to the public to come forward with any information that could shed light on his disappearance or what happened to him..
SASR can be contacted on 074 778 5653 or at info@sasr.co.za
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