Durban - The search is on for a chubby-faced, three-year-old girl who has been missing from her home in Molweni since last Wednesday.
The Pink Ladies organisation, which raises awareness about missing children across the country, has put out a “kidnapped child alert” for little Sinehanhla Ngubeni, whose case is being investigated by the Pinetown Family Violence, Child Protection and Sexual Offences Unit.
She was last seen by her family wearing pink shorts and a long-sleeved blue shirt.
The Pink Ladies, who work closely with the SAPS, have also put out another alert about a missing teenager, Thandeka Bongeka Nkosi, who was last seen in Shakaskraal, on the North Coast, on July 25, leaving for school.
Thandeka, who has long braids, was wearing her school uniform: a white dress and black school shoes, and also had a blue, Adidas bag.
Formed nine years ago, The Pink Ladies non-governmental organisation works with all role-players in the recovery, care and protection of the country’s youth, and although the majority of their caseload concerns missing children, the operations team, co-ordinators and volunteers have also helped in adult cases.
“We say that any missing person is someone’s child,” said the director and founder, Dessie Rechner, on Sunday.
Rechner is quick to stress that families should report missing children to the police immediately they realise they are gone.
“There is no waiting period. Waiting 24 hours before you can make a report is a myth. The authorities should be told straight away,” she said.
If families are told they have to wait 24 hours, they should “demand to speak to the next most senior officer until you receive a service,” the Pink Ladies say on their website (www.pinkladies.org.za).
The Pink Ladies distribute flyers about missing children and adults and every police station receives them.
“The officers have to sign that they have seen the flyers, and are also reminded about the flyers when the shift changes,” Rechner said.
Statistics from January to April reveal there was a 94% recovery rate of missing children, she said.
* To report sightings of Sinehlanhla, contact the SAPS Pinetown FCS Unit 031 325 5002 and for information about Thandeka, contact SAPS Umhlali on 032 947 9900.
The Pink Ladies can also be contacted on 072 214 7439.
Daily News