Picture: Some of the people reported missing in North West/Supplied
By OBAKENG MAJE
Many people continue to go missing in North West and some of them are never found. According to the police statistics, a total number of 1610 persons went missing from 1 January 2018 to 31 December 2022.
However, only 50% of that number were found thus far. A few years ago, two girls, Rethabile Tshabadira (3) and Matseleng Nteta (7) from Boitumelong Township, near Bloemhof were reported missing after they went to a local tuck-shop to buy sweets.
A few months after they went missing, human bones were found in a shallow grave in the area, and that raised the hopes of their families. However, that was not the case as there was no link between the human bones discovered and the missing children.
Matseleng’s mother, Maria Nteta said then that, they were disappointed after the police informed them about the results.
“We were relieved when we heard that there were bones found in a shallow grave in Bloemhof. We want to bury our children if they are dead and have closure. This tortures us every day without knowing where they might be.
“However, we still urge anyone with information to come forward and ensure that our children are found either dead or alive. We lost hope a long time ago in the police because nothing positive came out of their investigations. It seems they have also hit a dead end. I missed my daughter so much,” she said.
Rethabile’s grandmother, Lenah Tshabadira also shared the same sentiments. Tshabadira accused the police of being incompetent and alleged they have failed them as a family. She blamed the police for not putting up much effort into finding their children.
A year ago, Oratile Mothibi (18) from Modutung village, near Taung went missing after allegedly being kidnapped by an unknown man in the bushes. It is alleged that, Oratile and her siblings aged 11 and 14 respectively, went to Modutung to fetch indigenous vegetables.
Whilst in the veld, an unknown man grabbed her and threatened the boys with a knife when trying to rescue their sister.
Recently, a human skull and bones were discovered in Modimong village along with clothes belonging to the missing elderly woman, Kgalalelo Naledi (79) from Cokonyane village.
The daughter of Kgalalelo, Patricia Naledi said, they were adamant that, the human skull and bones discovered might belong to their mother, however, they are still waiting for autopsy results.
“We were hopeful when the police made a gruesome discovery in a grazing field almost a month ago. But, we are still in the dark as no one is updating us,” she said.
North West police spokesperson, Col Adele Myburgh said: “A total number of 1610 persons were reported missing from 1 January 2018 to 31 December 2022 and 536 were never found. We do not suspect that there is any syndicate operating here in the province.
“In case of suspicion of syndicates, the DPCI investigates, while individual cases are investigated by detectives. There are awareness activities, where we regularly use various media channels to sensitise communities.”
The Guardian 