An East London teen, last seen leaving for the switching on of the city’s Christmas lights on Saturday evening, is still missing.
The girl’s distraught family are having sleepless nights.
The disappearance of Asive Mkati, 14, comes on the back of widespread criticism for the BCM-hosted events in East London and King William’s Town on Saturday and Sunday.
There were several incidents of crime and excessive public drinking.
Asive was last seen on Saturday around 8pm by a friend in Mdantsane, said her sister Aphiwe Mkati.
“We have been searching everywhere. One of her friends saw her when she came to her house asking her to go with her to the beachfront around 8pm. The friend refused, saying it was already late, so she went alone.”
Aphiwe said they had opened a case at the police station in NU1 but police weren’t very helpful.
“The officer just said I should let them know when we find her,” said Aphiwe.
The family has posted pictures of Asive on Facebook and on street poles in Mdantsane.
Her mother, Nomvuyiso Maqina, said she had barely slept since she heard her daughter had gone to the beachfront party alone.
“We are so worried about her safety, especially since the beachfront is where a lot of crime happens,” said the sobbing mom.
Police Captain Mluleki Mbi yesterday confirmed that a missing person case was open but could not say why officers had not assisted the family in the search.
DA ward councillor Annette Rademeyer was scathing about the King William’s Town event.
She said there had been four stabbing incidents, two of them serious. “There was no control and no security.
“Criminal elements messed up a family outing. By Monday morning people were still drunk on the streets and there were bottles of alcohol everywhere.”
The Dispatch reported on Wednesday that Brian de Jager and his pregnant fiancée were attacked by knife-wielding thugs in front of their three children while watching the fireworks. De Jager has stab wounds to his back, chest and arm and his fiancée was cut in the face.
In East London, Windmill restaurant owner Phytos Kyriacou said the biggest problem had been alcohol. “There is nothing wrong with the event but the main concern is the alcohol consumption by the teenagers. We had to secure our premises at some stage.
“But this year was better than last year.”
He urged organisers and law- enforcement agencies to exercise more control.
Despite a council resolution last week to end the event at 8pm to avoid criminal incidents, the party had gone on until midnight.
Councillor Sakhumzi Caga, who raised the motion in council, was disappointed the resolution was not implemented. “Ours is to make resolutions but other people need to implement them.
“We resolved that the event starts around 2pm so that the lights go on around 7pm, and by 8pm the entertainment would come to an end. Teenagers get raped, murdered and robbed and we need to take responsibility.”
BCM mayor Zukiswa Ncitha said the criminal activity was “unfortunate”.
“We did our best to dispatch officers to control the thousands of people. We sympathise with the families who were affected but we plead with parents to accompany their children.
“It is supposed to be a fun family outing. It was beyond our control that the shows started late.”
Ncitha said she would ask the safety MEC to help with finding Asive.
BCM girl, 14, missing
The girl’s distraught family are having sleepless nights.
The disappearance of Asive Mkati, 14, comes on the back of widespread criticism for the BCM-hosted events in East London and King William’s Town on Saturday and Sunday.
There were several incidents of crime and excessive public drinking.
Asive was last seen on Saturday around 8pm by a friend in Mdantsane, said her sister Aphiwe Mkati.
“We have been searching everywhere. One of her friends saw her when she came to her house asking her to go with her to the beachfront around 8pm. The friend refused, saying it was already late, so she went alone.”
Aphiwe said they had opened a case at the police station in NU1 but police weren’t very helpful.
“The officer just said I should let them know when we find her,” said Aphiwe.
The family has posted pictures of Asive on Facebook and on street poles in Mdantsane.
Her mother, Nomvuyiso Maqina, said she had barely slept since she heard her daughter had gone to the beachfront party alone.
“We are so worried about her safety, especially since the beachfront is where a lot of crime happens,” said the sobbing mom.
Police Captain Mluleki Mbi yesterday confirmed that a missing person case was open but could not say why officers had not assisted the family in the search.
DA ward councillor Annette Rademeyer was scathing about the King William’s Town event.
She said there had been four stabbing incidents, two of them serious. “There was no control and no security.
“Criminal elements messed up a family outing. By Monday morning people were still drunk on the streets and there were bottles of alcohol everywhere.”
The Dispatch reported on Wednesday that Brian de Jager and his pregnant fiancée were attacked by knife-wielding thugs in front of their three children while watching the fireworks. De Jager has stab wounds to his back, chest and arm and his fiancée was cut in the face.
In East London, Windmill restaurant owner Phytos Kyriacou said the biggest problem had been alcohol. “There is nothing wrong with the event but the main concern is the alcohol consumption by the teenagers. We had to secure our premises at some stage.
“But this year was better than last year.”
He urged organisers and law- enforcement agencies to exercise more control.
Despite a council resolution last week to end the event at 8pm to avoid criminal incidents, the party had gone on until midnight.
Councillor Sakhumzi Caga, who raised the motion in council, was disappointed the resolution was not implemented. “Ours is to make resolutions but other people need to implement them.
“We resolved that the event starts around 2pm so that the lights go on around 7pm, and by 8pm the entertainment would come to an end. Teenagers get raped, murdered and robbed and we need to take responsibility.”
BCM mayor Zukiswa Ncitha said the criminal activity was “unfortunate”.
“We did our best to dispatch officers to control the thousands of people. We sympathise with the families who were affected but we plead with parents to accompany their children.
“It is supposed to be a fun family outing. It was beyond our control that the shows started late.”
Ncitha said she would ask the safety MEC to help with finding Asive.
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