A desperate search for a missing nine-year-old girl turned into a night of chaos and violence in Hanover Park on Tuesday evening, after she was found inside the home of a man recently released on parole, just metres from where she was last seen.

The young girl had been on her way to a madressa at a mosque at around 3pm when she reportedly encountered a man who handed her R20 and asked her to buy milk from a nearby tuckshop. According to her family, she never returned.

Missing persons’ organisations were alerted and immediately began circulating posters of the child, sparking widespread concern as they went viral across social media.

Her father, 29, said he was informed of her disappearance just as he arrived in Hanover Park from work.

“I had just stepped out of the taxi when my mother phoned me to say my daughter hadn’t come home and they were looking for her,” he said.

“When I asked why I wasn’t told sooner, she said she had just come home and they’d already checked the mosque and searched the area. We went to the girl she was walking with, who told us that a man gave her R20 for milk. My daughter went to take the milk to him and never came back. That girl didn’t see where the man went.”

The father said he did not know the suspect, although he recognised the house where she was later found. “I only found out at the hospital that he was on parole,” he said, adding that his daughter had spent more than five hours in the suspect’s home. The family now plans to get trauma counselling for her.

Community members launched their search and, following leads from residents, including the girl’s companion, they located the child inside a home on Johnvlei Road, not far from where she disappeared.

Faith and Hope Missing Persons founder Veranique ‘Benji’ Williams said: “The moment the father contacted me, I made contact with all role players like the station commander of Phillipi and also FCS, and Captain Pretorius.

“We had a quick response, and that’s why we had success. The community needs to know who is in their area, whether it is a parolee or someone who comes from jail, so that they can be aware. This is an eye-opening one over and over for our communities. It’s time that we need to fight back and say enough is enough for our children and hands off our children!

“Parents need to know where their kids are going and also know in what environment they are playing. We thank the community of Hanover Park that assisted in finding the girl.”

By 8pm, hundreds of enraged residents had gathered outside the house.

The suspect, believed to be 51 years old, had reportedly just been released from prison on parole.

As tensions rose, law enforcement was deployed in full force, including the Anti-Gang Unit (AGU), Public Order Policing unit, and the city’s Law Enforcement team.

Angry residents demanded that police hand the suspect over. Attempts to move the man into a Nyala armoured vehicle triggered a violent reaction.

Stones were thrown, shots were fired, and several people were injured. Community members allege that police used live ammunition, with at least three residents reportedly shot in the legs.

Community leader Moulana Tohaa Rodrigues said the police response was not only slow, but one-sided.

“The suspect gave the girl R20 and asked her to get milk. When she returned, he kept her in his house for hours,” said Rodrigues.

“Once again, it’s a parolee. These men are released into our communities with no oversight. This is what causes chaos. The whole community rose to the occasion, but the police were reluctant to act. They defended the criminal rather than supporting the community.”

Rodrigues said the determination of local residents ultimately led to the girl being found.

“It wasn’t the police who found her, it was the community. And when people expressed frustration, they were met with bullets.”

The violence reportedly continued until midnight.

Police spokesperson Sergeant Wesley Twigg confirmed that officers came under attack while investigating the missing person report in Johnvlei Road.

“Philippi police have registered a case of public violence for investigation following an incident on Tuesday evening, 13 May 2025,” said Twigg. “Police members followed up on information about a missing nine-year-old girl who was found at the premises. A crowd of approximately 200 people gathered and demanded that the suspect be handed over to them.

“Police took action to disperse the riotous crowd. A 51-year-old male was taken in for questioning. Police vehicles were damaged. Nobody has been arrested for public violence. The investigation into the matter is ongoing.”

Anyone with information about this incident is urged to contact Crime Stop on 08600 10111 or submit a tip-off anonymously via the MySAPS mobile application.

mandilakhe.tshwete@inl.co.za

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