INLSA

Korien Heeramun. Picture: supplied

A Phoenix mother says a dark cloud has been hovering over her family since the disappearance of her teenage daughter earlier this year.

Valerie Heeramun, 38, a daycare mum of Longcroft, said her family’s woes began on January 9 when her 15-year-old daughter, Korien, failed to return home after a trip to a nearby tuck shop.

“I left home at 8am to fetch medication from a clinic at the Phoenix Plaza. I remember being in a rush because I was late. Korien reassured me that together with her older sister Celest, they would take care of the house and their 12-year-old brother, Tiran,” said Heeramun.

She said that a few hours later she received a call from Celest saying that Korien had left to buy airtime vouchers and over an hour later had still not returned.

“A cold shiver ran down my spine when I heard those words. I could not help but think the worst. I immediately called my husband, Vickey, and we began a frantic search around our neighbourhood,” said Heeramun.

She added that when she arrived home she went straight to the tuck shop to speak to the owners, but to her dismay no one had seen her. Heeramun also contacted Korien's friends, but none of them had heard from or seen her.

She added that her husband and her spent the entire night searching nearby areas in the hope of finding Korien.

“I hired a car and driver to take me to a few areas. My husband searched for Korien with members of the Phoenix SAPS, but to no avail,” said Heeramun.

In their bid to find Korien, the family have put up ‘missing persons’ posters in the neighbourhood. “We have been to churches and made announcements,” said Heeramun, who added that since the disappearance she has had sleepless nights.

“She was preparing to start her Grade 10 at Intec College. My family and I are devastated. Korien is the light of our lives. She always keeps us entertained with her bubbly personality,” said Heeramun.

A missing persons report was opened at the Phoenix Police Station. Anyone with information on Korien's whereabouts can call the station at 031 508 2300 or Heeramun on 074 247 0612.

Meanwhile, the post-mortem results of 15-year-old Taryn Ramanandh whose body was found at an Eskom power station in Umzinto in December, has not been completed. The teenager was initially reported missing by her parents.

Ramanandh was found with a single gunshot wound to her head. No arrests have been made. -Post