Six years and still missing. Amahle Thebethe from Tsakane, Ekurhuleni, has still not been found and her family, along with law enforcement authorities, continue to search while keeping hope alive.
Her mother, Nokulunga Nkosi, is sad that her daughter is turning 14 years old this year and still missing.
“This is a sensitive matter. Whenever we touch on the topic it becomes very emotional. We have decided to only communicate with the family regarding this matter and only when there are positive developments,” Brian Sithole, Chief Operation Officer and Director of the One Strong Voice Foundation, said.
The One Strong Voice Foundation is a social justice advocacy non-profit-organisation (NPO). Together with other organisations around Tsakane, they have assisted with searching for Thabethe in hotspot areas and have also led a march to plead for her safe return. Sithole said they have received tipoffs but those did not help in finding Thabethe.
“We had requested the South African Police Services (SAPS) to release a R50 000 cash reward, which was only done after two years of Amahle’s disappearance. The first investigative officer of the case is now on pension and since then, there is always a new investigative officer assigned to the case,” Sithole said.
He also mentioned that alternative ways to remain hopeful have been tested and that other organisations have held prayer sessions in collaboration with different stakeholders to pray for the return of Thabethe.
“It is disturbing when people joke or post fake news about missing children on social media when other people are facing the reality of not knowing their children’s whereabouts,” Sithole emphasized.
He concluded by saying the search for Thabethe will continue until she is found.