The search continues for the 12-year-old Mpfariseni Nemaungani who was allegedly kidnapped outside the Mveledzandivho Primary School in Soweto two days ago.
His parents became frantic when the driver who was expected to fetch him from school on Wednesday afternoon informed them that he could not be found.
A missing person’s case has since been opened at the Moroka police station.
Recently released Gauteng police statistics for the period October to December last year show that 77 people were kidnapped for ransom during that period, seven of them for human trafficking purposes.
The missing child’s father Soloman Nemaungani says they fear the worst.
“Very bad, last night I did not even sleep because I don’t know what happened to my child, will we find him alive or not and this is trauma to me. As a father, I am trying to be strong. Whether I will find him dead or alive is my fear. I just pray that we must find him alive. We don’t know the motive behind the kidnapping.”
Meanwhile, Gauteng police spokesperson Brenda Muridili says they have allocated resources to search for the boy.
“The police in Moroka, led by FCS members have mobilised maximum resources in the search of 12-year-old Mpfariseni. He was reported missing by his parents at Moroka police station after he did not return from school. At this stage, the search continues. The police have been joined by the community, led by CPF members as well as patrollers. They have also been joined by the SAPS K9 unit and Gauteng crime prevention wardens.”
