R5 000 REWARD - Plain family appeal for help to find missing mom Jonitha Baron-Bessick

THE family of 44-year-old Jonitha Baron-Bessick has put out a R5 000 reward for their missing loved one, who had been spotted several times in Mitchells Plain.​

Natasha Marco told the Daily Voice that her sister, a patient at Stikland Psychiatric Hospital, had left their parents' home in Belhar on 14 February around 10am.​

Marco explained: “She planned to go to her son, who lives with his father in Mitchells Plain. She went there, but her son wasn’t there. 

“The next day she went again, but according to people who saw her, she was confused, but they said that she was worse and confused.

“She was last seen on 15 February in Mitchells Plain. 

“People say they saw her at Town Centre last week. And this week, people said that they saw her at Westgate Mall and at a Spar opposite the mall.​

“But when we got there, it was too late. We saw no trace of her.”​

Marco explained that her sister was admitted to the hospital in December, however when she was discharged after being at the facility for a week, she was still confused, talking to herself, trees, and airplanes.​

She added: “She talks to trees, cars, and anything, and sometimes doesn’t know who she is. She would ask people for money and was confused.”​

After several missing persons posters had been shared, the family decided to put up a R5 000 reward on 22 February in the hopes that someone could lead them to their loved one.​

Marco added that this is the first time that this has happened to her sister, and the family are desperately appealing to the public to provide information.​

She said: “We ask people to really consider that we, as a family, are worried about her. ​

“She is not a violent person; it’s just that she went through a lot of trauma in her life and went through a nervous breakdown, which is why she is in the state that she is in.”

Police spokesperson Constable Ndakhe Gwala said that Belhar detectives are investigating Jonitha’s case.

Gwala said: “Belhar detectives seek the assistance of the public in locating Jonitha Bessick, who was last seen leaving her home in Belhar on Monday, 16 February 2026. She was wearing a red and white top, maroon pants, blue sandals and a grey scarf.”

Anyone with information about her whereabouts is kindly requested to contact the investigating officer, Detective Sergeant Filemon, on 021 953 8100, or alternatively at 071 639 8344.