Cape Town - Some of Taro Spies’s family and friends waited for news of his whereabouts on Table Mountain Road as a search for him contued on Sunday, while others resorted to social media to spread the message of his disappearance.
Wilderness Search and Rescue spokesman Johann Marais said Spies was last seen visiting a friend last Monday. His car was found parked on Table Mountain Road the next day and he was formally reported missing on Thursday.
“He visited a friend on Monday afternoon and evening, that must have been the last person to have seen him. We are not sure of what happened to him on Monday night.”
Marais said on Sunday’s search with about 30 people and two search dogs proved futile.
“On Saturday the search wasn’t started as early as we would have liked because of the cold weather. We started at about 11.30am and searched until 8.30pm and the helicopter guys also did some rounds when they had a chance. On Sunday we started at 8am.
Some of his friends have created a secret page on Facebook called, Bring Taro Home, and they have refused to divulge any information to media.
“There will be no media coverage accepted. No reporters, we have already denied them and been pushed further. Please note out of respect for his family we will never give out private information nor conduct interviews,” said a member of the group William Psytrance. “Any further reporters acting like insensitive vultures will be banned.”
Police spokesman Captain FC van Wyk said that no developments had been made in the case and the investigation continued.
Spies towers at 2.1m, has brown eyes and long black hair and anyone with information on his whereabouts can contact Constable Mostert on 082 522 1216.
Meanwhile, police are looking for Yolanda van Staden, 27, who went missing on Saturday. The The Pink Ladies Organisation for Missing Children in South Africa said Van Staden was last seen by her husband who left her at Retreat railway station.
She lives in Steenberg and was last seen wearing navy blue pants, an orange top, grey jersey and brown boots.
Anyone with information can contact Sergeant Deidre Solomons at 073 253 6361 or 021 701 2426.
* Shihaam Solomons from Manenberg went missing on April 21 and the search for her still continues. She is an epileptic and suffers from Alzheimer’s. She was last seen wearing a black scarf, purple jersey and black three-quarter pants.
* Anyone with more information can contact The Pink Ladies on 072 214 7439.
Cape Argus