The family of a 12-year-old boy who went missing in Mabopane, north of Pretoria over a week ago, are scrambling to find him. Reports of Thapelo Mahlangu’s disappearance started emerging after the lifeless body of his paternal grandmother was found dumped in front of her yard. The deceased’s family say they’ve opened a missing person case and they’re still trying to come to terms with what has happened.
It’s been over a week since Thapelo Mahlangu vanished. And for his mother, the uncertainty is intolerable. He was raised by his paternal grandmother in Mabopane. But on the 5th of this month, his grandmother was found murdered and her body, that was wrapped, dumped outside of her compound. But the young boy has disappeared without a trace.
“He’s 12-year-old and a bit dark skinned and they just want him to be found alive because next week schools are opening and when you don’t have your child around you, you panic,” says Thandeka Sindane, family representative.
The boy’s mother is also tormented by not knowing whether he’s dead or alive. According to Missing Children South Africa, a child is reported missing every five hours in the country, with child kidnapping, abductions and human trafficking increasing at an alarming rate.
“We just hope this reaches more people and we find him unlike families who’ve find their loved one’s dead we hope we’ll just be on time to find him alive,” Sindane added.
The Gauteng provincial police spokesperson, Colonel Mavela Masondo says they haven’t received a report of a missing person but they’ll attempt to verify the information.
