A teenage couple has been found alive and braaiing meat at the popular East London hangout spot, Ebuhlanti, three weeks after they were reported missing.
The 17-year-old and the 18-year-old of Lieveldt Village in King William’s Town, were found on Saturday, while a third person, another 18-year-old, reported missing was found on January 30 “hiding”.
Police spokesperson Captain Siphokazi Mawisa said the third teenager, of Ilitha township, was found in Mdantsane.
All three were found to be safe after a frantic police search.
“Immediately when someone is reported missing we do our job as the police, but our youth must at least tell someone at home or a friend where they’re going so it will be easy to find them because this leaves parents worried,” Mawisa said.
She said the third teen was spotted by a resident who alerted the police. “All three of them were handed over to their parents.”
Amanda, mother of the missing girl, said her daughter and the 18-year-old had such an intense relationship they were not shocked to learn the two had run away together. She said her daughter disappeared with the 18-year-old on January 15.
“She left home at around 7am to go to school. When the other children returned home in the afternoon she was not with them. I asked her younger sister where she was and she said she did not go to school.”
Amanda said the defiant teens disappeared from the village. “Her boyfriend was waiting for her at the taxi stop and they left. We were all worried.
“We heard stories that she was spotted at various places and when her father went to search for her she was nowhere to be found.
“We also searched at another village but there were no signs of her whereabouts. I had sleepless nights for three weeks,” the mom said Tuesday.
A picture of the couple that circulated on social media led to their discovery in Ebuhlanti. “Someone said she had seen my daughter looking very dirty in East London. I was told she was living in a filthy place.
“I sent my cousin to go and fetch her but he didn’t come back with her. Then on Saturday my husband went to search but [we] received a call from the police that they were bringing our child back home.”
The mother-of-four said her daughter disclosed that they had been squatting with a female meat braaier from Ziphunzane.
She said the families of the teens were conflicted over the relationship. “My daughter told us she was running away from her dad because every time when she goes to her boyfriend, he fetches her and beats her up. The boy stays with her for days and they don’t attend school.
“At one point we even had to go and get the police to help us get our daughter from her boyfriend’s place.”
An uncle, Anele, said: “I had spoken with the boy several times.
“He lived with his mom in another village but does not want to stay there because he likes being here. We had begged him to go back to school after he passed Grade 11.”
Meanwhile, Sterkstroom police have opened a missing person inquiry after a 12-year-old also went missing on December 22.
Anyone with information can contact detective Warrant Officer Zingisile Blandile on 082-441-8437...