VANISHED OUTSIDE COURT - Elsies mother searches for missing dogter after domestic dispute with dad

AN ELSIES River mother is desperately seeking assistance to find her missing 16-year-old daughter who vanished outside Mitchells Plain Magistrate’s Court last week.

Schyla Lee-Anne Jeftha was set to appear at the court on Friday, 11 December 2025, on a domestic complaint involving her father and disappeared shortly before her appearance that morning. 

Her mother, Elzaan Jeftha, said that she is concerned for her daughter’s safety as she has the tendency to disappear, usually for a day, but never this long.

The mother explained: “We were at court. Schyla had a court appearance that was going to be finalised that day. 

“When we were going into court, she said 'sy wil gou klaar roek' then she will come in and she vanished.

“Her father made a case of malicious damage to property after she broke two cups in the house. The cost of the cups was less than R200 and she has been attending for this case since July. 

“The court appearance date was for finalisation as her case was set down for outhouse diversion, meaning that she needs to go for anger management classes that will be starting in February. 

“She knew that the case would be finalised and had no fear or reason for not being at court. 

“The child was placed in my care by the family advocate during the divorce. 

“She later decided to stay with her father but unfortunately that relationship went sour after physical altercations and abusive behaviour from her father and his drug-addicted girlfriend, who is apparently in the process of getting herself rehabilitated by force.

“The Western Cape Missing Persons Unit has been dispatching people to look for Schyla with no success. It might be that someone is hiding her or it might be a human trafficking thing.

“The last time she was found at a house in Delft, however she is now more familiar with Mitchells Plain and is known to be mostly around Lentegeur, Beacon Valley and the Farm. She lives in Elsies River with me.”

Police spokesperson Sergeant Wesley Twigg confirmed that a missing persons case is under investigation at Mitchells Plain Saps.

Twigg reported: “Kindly be advised that the 16 year old girl was reported missing at Mitchell’s Plain SAPS on 12 December 2025. The circumstances surrounding her disappearance are under investigation.”

Schyla has a tattoo on her upper left breast of a butterfly and flowers. She wears a nose ring and is short and light of complexion. She was last seen wearing a black short jumpsuit, black and white Nike dunk tekkies and a black bonnet.

Police are appealing to anyone with any information who can assist with the investigation or who knows the whereabouts of the missing person to kindly contact Crime Stop on 08600 10111 or use the mobile application MySAPS anonymously.