CAPE TOWN - A distraught Crossroads family is seeking answers as to what really happened on December 16, after their 2-year-old child, Enkosi Nkolisa, disappeared and his body, which was knocked by a car, was found the next day along the R300 highway.
The toddler was last seen on Thursday at about 5pm wearing a yellow top and blue denim pants.
He is alleged to have been taken by an unknown man who allegedly claimed to be the boy's father.
According to the boy’s 30-year-old mother, Nomakholwa Nkolisa, she had left her child playing with her neighbours’ children while she went to buy something to eat.
Enkosi is the last born of five children.
“The child was with my neighbours since I had to go and buy something to eat. However, when I returned they informed me that his ’father took him’.
Later at night I called his father who stays in Marikana, asking him when he intended to bring the child back.
“But he had no idea what I was talking about.
“Then I approached residents to assist me to look for him to no avail. People thought that the unknown man was the father, because he claimed to be my child's father and he apparently looked like him,” Nkolisa said.
The mother claims that on Friday she went to a police station in Crossroads who referred her to the Nyanga police station.
“Officers came to speak to my neighbours but it seems like nothing was done.
“The search using loud hailers continued in the community.
“Someone advised me on Sunday to return to Nyanga police station which is when a case was lodged, and Pink Ladies flyers were also shared on social media.
“Apparently someone who saw the flyer called to inform us there is a child who fits the description who was knocked by a vehicle on Friday.
“On Monday I went to identify the body and confirmed it was really him.
My hope is that the unknown man is found so that we get answers and closure,” she said.
Police Joseph Swartbooi said a missing person was reported on December 19 at about 8pm at Nyanga police station.
“The members of Family Violence, Child Abuse and Sexual offences unit followed up on all available leads to reunite the 2-year-old boy with his parents.
On Monday the investigating officer accompanied the parents to Tygerberg Pathology Service where they identified the body as that of their 2-year old son, who was reported missing on Sunday.”
Swartbooi said Mfuleni police opened a case of culpable homicide for further investigation as the child was involved in a motor vehicle accident on the R300 highway, after which the body was transported to the mortuary. Councillor Nceba Ntshweza visited the family on Wednesday.
“It is sad that we get to hear about a serious case like this only today. “We need to work together always, especially in a case that involves a child. We also urge people to come forward with any information that can help solve this case, we need to know who this man is as we heard he came to the area to drink.”
Candice van der Rheede of the Western Cape Missing Persons unit said the disappearance of the child happened the same day that Linathi Titshala vanished in 2018.
The 9-year-old intended on walking to her grandmother’s home which was three doors away, but she never arrived.
“Information was shared to us also on Friday that there was a child who was knocked by a vehicle on the R300 off-ramp in the direction to Cape Town.
“We thought the child was identified the same day because there was nothing about a missing child shared with us or on social media that day. We were shocked to hear on Tuesday that it was actually a child that was missing.
“During festive season roads and communities are busy, crime is also high. So we urged parents to always be alert about the whereabouts of their children and their surroundings,” said Van der Rheede.
Ilitha Labantu’s Siyabulela Monakali urged the public to remember the “my child is your child” commitment.
“We need ubuntu and residents must ask questions when they see a child walking with someone they have never seen before. Also parents must take responsibility.”
If you have any crime information, contact Crime Stop anonymously on 08600 10111 or SMS CrimeLine on 32211.
Cape Times