'I WANT HER BACK HOME'

THE family of an eight-year-old girl from Phumlani Village in Lotus River are desperately praying for her return. 

The devastated family from the Riemvasmaak informal settlement last saw Anovuyo Oncke on Saturday morning, 6 September, and the police and the community have launched an intensive search. 

The hunt for the missing eight-year-old from entered its third day yesterday. 

Family and the community have growing concerns as Anovuyo has now been missing for days with no leads on her whereabouts. 

Community worker Beryl Williams said there have been no new developments and searches for the young girl continue. 

Door-to-door searches were conducted in the area as residents willingly opened their homes to search parties. 

Police were leading the charge, and drones were also called in to assist with searches. 

Father Luvuyo Mantile, mother Samantha Oncke and Williams continue to search for the missing girl.

More residents, including neighbourhood watch groups as well as Community Policing Forums (CPF), joined forces to cover larger perimeters at a time. 

The Grade 1 learner from Perivale Primary School was last seen wearing black pants and a pink pajama top.

The devastated 25-year-old mother said: “She was here in the area playing [on Saturday]. 

“Usually, if I am not at home, she would go to my sister and sleep over, but return early the next day. 

“She did not return on Sunday morning, and when I went to look where she was, she never made it to my sister. 

“I then immediately went to the police station to declare her missing.” 

The mother of two said community members and police immediately started looking for the young girl. 

She added: “I just want her to come home now. 

“As a mother, I am heartbroken because I do not know where she is, if she has eaten, where she slept, and what she is doing.

“If she were in the area, she would have been found already, as she would have come out. Everyone knows her.”

The provincial police spokesperson, Sergeant Wesley Twigg, confirmed a missing persons case has been opened.

Police urged anyone with information to contact Crime Stop at 08600 10111 or use the mobile application MySAPS anonymously. 

Mense can also call Williams at 082 732 6926 with any information. Desperate Grassy Park family calls for missing meisie’s return