Outrage over ‘missing’ Unizulu graduate

THERE were mixed emotions with the news on Thursday that missing Unizulu graduate Mbali Gumede had been found alive and well in Soweto.

After more than three months of agonising since her disappearance on 5 June when she was on her way to the kwaDlangezwa campus to collect her graduation documents, her family is relived she was found alive and returned home safely.

But the overriding sentiment expressed by members of the community is one of anger and irritation.

The 23-year old UniZulu graduate from Nkonjane was found in Soweto on Tuesday and brought home by members of the Mtunzini SAPS’ Crime Investigation Division.

King Cetshwayo SAPS spokesperson, Captain Mbongeni Mdlalose, told the ZO Mbali was found at a jondolo in Protea Glen, Soweto, with someone they can only assume was her boyfriend.

It is still unclear as to why Mbali left without informing her family where she was going.

Speaking to the ZO on Friday, Mbali’s sister, Thobo Mthembu said she is undergoing counselling.

‘Right now we haven’t spoken to her too much, she is somehow disturbed and she doesn’t want to communicate – she is busy with counselling.

‘She’s not ready to see or talk to anyone – we are giving her space until she is ready to talk to us.

‘We want to thank everyone who assisted us in finding her, all the prayers and support,’ she said.

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Wasteful resources

Meanwhile Captain Mdlalose issued a stern warning to young people.

‘This is becoming a trend, especially among the youth.

‘You find that youngsters leave home without informing their family where they are going and then we waste important time and resources in trying to determine where the person is.

‘While it is our job to treat and investigate every case on its own merit, we cannot be led to believe that someone is in danger when they are not,’ he said.

Gumede was last seen on 5 June when she was on her way to the University of Zululand to collect her documents after her graduation.

Mtunizni SAPS opened a case of missing persons on the same day.

Later SAPS opened a separate case of kidnapping and begun investigating the matter further.

Various church and other groups held special services and instigated search parties during the time Mbali was missing, with fears she may have been abducted and even murdered.