Search continues for Unicef woman

THE search for missing Unicef associate director Charlotte Nikoi, 50, has turned up no leads, with the UN, of which Unicef is part, becoming more worried about her safety.

Zeenat Abdool, information officer for the UN in South Africa, said the organisation was working closely with the police to solve the mystery of her disappearance.

“The UN is extremely concerned and working with the police to assist in any way possible,” Abdool said.

“We continuously pray and hope for her safe return. We are confident the authorities working on this investigation are more than capable.”

Nikoi went missing on Human Rights Day while hiking with her daughter and husband on Platteklip Gorge on Table Mountain.

Wilderness Search and Rescue conducted a search last Saturday, but turned up empty-handed.

“We have established there is a 90% chance she is not on the mountain,” Johann Marais said. “We met with the family and interviewed the husband to ascertain what exactly happened.”

Marais said that while investigating Nokoi’s disappearance he established that there was a twohour window period during anything could have happened.

Nikoi was wearing light blue shorts, a cream, black and brown cardigan, sleeveless black top, brown sneakers, a big blue hat and oval-shaped glasses.

She went missing shortly after she and her husband and daughter had gone hiking up Platteklip Gorge. It would have been their last day in Cape Town.

While hiking up, she sent her husband a text message informing him that she would wait at the bottom for him. Soon afterwards she sent him a cryptic message, part of which she had posted on Facebook to her sister.

Police spokesperson Noloyiso Rwexana said yesterday that there were no new leads: “The investigation continues.”

Anyone with any information on the whereabouts of Nikoi is encouraged to call Sergeant Isaacs on 021 461 8067 or 072 954 8971. –