Police at Masoyi, in Mpumalanga, are appealing to community members for assistance in reuniting three-year-old Nkosingiphile Ndwane Ntiwane with his family.

Provincial police spokesperson in Mpumalanga, Lieutenant Colonel Jabu Ndubane said Nkosingiphile, who resides at Mshadza Trust, in Masoyi, vanished on Sunday afternoon.

“According to the information received, Nkosingiphile was playing at his residence, and at around 1pm. He went outside, in the yard. It is when his father noticed his child was nowhere to be found,” said Ndubane.

The alarmed father then called his neighbours and other community members to assist in searching for the child. Police said the frantic search by the community members did not yield positive results.

“Other role players were summoned to the scene,” said Ndubane.

“At the time of his disappearance, Nkosingiphile was wearing a military-colour (camouflage) jumpsuit, and a peach jersey. He is also deaf and mute.”

Police have appealed to community members to assist in the ongoing search for Nkosingiphile. 

“Anyone with information that could assist in locating him is urged to contact Captain David Hlatshwayo on 076 451 5495. Alternatively, members of the public may contact the SAPS Crime Stop number 08600 10111 or submit information via My SAPS App,” said Ndubane.

“All information will be treated with the utmost confidentiality, and callers may opt to remain anonymous.”

In January, as the festive holiday season came to an end, police, together with missing persons organisations and social workers, had their hands full after a total of 632 children were reported missing at the end of 2024.

This happened while 365 children were separated from their parents on Cape Town’s beaches and later reunited, with 20 cases handed over to social services.

The Cape Argus shockingly revealed that for the period of 2024, nationally, 632 children were reported missing to police, while experts warn of the risks to social media.

National police spokesperson, Athlenda Mathe, said a total of 8,743 children were reported missing to police across the country in the past ten years.

jonisayi.maromo@iol.co.za

IOL News  

Source link