Kimberley - Five days after a young Kimberley girl went missing when she walked to a local tuck shop, a massive search is still ongoing ... and her parents are still hoping that she is alive.
Five-year-old Keitumetse Magwadibane went missing on Thursday afternoon after she went to a tuck shop with her seven-year-old friend. According to her parents, Frank and Margaret Magwadibane, the two children were sent to the shop by the mother of her friend to buy fish.
“It was around 4pm when she sent the two children to the tuck shop and, according to a little boy, Keitumetse asked for a rand from a man. The man then told her that she should go with him to fetch the money. She then left with the man,” Frank said.
He said they only received this information on Saturday from the 11-year-old cousin of the boy who saw Keitumetse at the tuck shop.
“The boy did not tell us on the day that Keitumetse disappeared that she had left with an unknown man. Apparently three men prevented her from going home and they grabbed her and ran into the veld close to the cemetery,” he said.
According to the desperate father, they searched the area pointed out by the young boy but did not find anything.
Frank added that they have called in the police as well as crime-fighting organisation, Wanya Tsotsi.
“We have been searching for Keitumetse since Thursday night and we are still looking for her. We are pleading with the person who took her to please return her safely ... we are willing to pay if they are looking for money,” Frank said.
The young girl’s mother, Margaret, said she is praying for the safe return of her child.
“I have not been able to sleep since Thursday because I do not know where my child is. I am feeling sick and she is the only person I can think about,” she said.
Wanya Tsotsi spokesman Pantsi Obusitse urged community members to assist with information.
“Anyone who has information on this matter is asked to contact the police. We are asking community members who may have seen or heard anything with regards to the missing girl to come forward. We will intensify our search and are positive that we will find the child. We are also asking churches to pray for this family during this time,” Obusitse said.
Police spokeswoman, Sergeant Majang Skalkie, confirmed the incident on Monday.
“The matter was reported to the Galeshewe police on Saturday. The police immediately started searching for the child after the case was opened. Police searched the Promised Land area and around Kagisho following information they received from the parents. The search is still ongoing and we urge anyone with information regarding the incident to contact the police,” Skalkie said.
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