Cape Town - A massive search is under way for a five-year-old girl from Mitchells Plain who has been missing since Friday.
Kauther Bobbs, pictured, was last seen playing with two friends at a park near her home in Freedom Park in Tafelsig.
Police, including dog units, neighbourhood watch members, the NGO Pink Ladies and community members have been searching for Kauther since she disappeared.
On Friday night Kauther’s mother and grandmother, Lameez and Nazley Bobbs walked the streets of Mitchells Plain with a torch. Friends described it as an effort of “amazing bravery”, adding that, “you don’t walk these streets at night; innocent people get killed by gangsters”.
Since Friday there have been several reports of sightings of Kauther, but all have been dead ends.
“There have been so many rumours flying around. Now she’s been spotted here, now there. But all these leads have come to dead ends; it’s been very frustrating and emotional,” said her aunt, Zainonesa Bobbs.
At the time of her disappearance Kauther was wearing a pink top with a Tinker Bell print, blue pyjama pants and dark blue Crocs.
“It is very unusual for her to venture away from home. She is five years old, and getting more confident. But she is very obedient and she knew she wasn’t allowed to go to the park by herself,” said her aunt, Zainonesa Bobbs.
Kauther had apparently told a neighbourhood boy that she had permission to be in the park without supervision.
Dessie Rechner, of the NGO Pink Ladies, which is assisting police in the search, said the rumour that Kauther’s body had been found today was “malicious” and “untrue”.
“Extensive ground searches have been done and dog units were involved, along with the neighbourhood watch. The community needs to be thanked for [its] efforts to try to find her,” Rechner said.
The Bobbs household was abuzz with people coming and going this morning, as family and friends discussed the search.
Kauther’s mother said police had treated her as a suspect in the disappearance. She said she was questioned by police for most of Saturday.
“I’m very upset because they treated me like dirt and prevented me from searching… I am a mother looking for my missing child and all they can do is accuse… Meanwhile, they aren’t searching properly… they aren’t questioning the community.”
l Anyone with information can call investigating officer Detective Warrant Officer Faizal Meyer at 082 522 1066 or Dessie Rechner at 072 214 7439 or e-mail [email protected]
Cape Argus