Family of missing woman critical of response of police

A KOMANI family is accusing Ezibeleni Police Station of refusing to open a missing person’s case earlier this month.

Sihle Sobekete, 17, was last seen on June 2 before going to school. She never returned home.

The family claims that when her father, Xolani Poto, 41, wanted to open a case at the Zone 1 police station 48 hours after her disappearance, the family was denied the chance to open a case.

This flies in the face of Police Minister Fikile Mbalula saying people should not even wait 48 hours to report a missing person, following the spate of violence against women and children.

Sihle’s mother Patheka Sobekete, 41, said they were devastated her daughter had not yet been found.

“I am troubled by the way the situation was handled by the police when we wanted to open the case.

“I am sick and cannot sleep and every time a car passes by I hope it is the police car bringing my daughter home,” she said.

Sobekete said residents had reportedly seen township.

“Every time I go to a place someone claims to have seen Sihle, she is no longer there,” she said.

Sihle was described as a quiet child by her mother and is said to not have many friends.

Sihle’s disappearance has affected her nine-year-old sister, Sobekete said. the 17-year-old in the

“She cries all the makes me emotional.”

The mother said she suspected that Sihle might be with an abusive boyfriend about whom the teenager had complained to her mother.

Komani police spokeswoman Captain Namhla Mdleleni would not confirm if the family was initially denied the chance to report Sihle missing.

“A case of a missing person was time, which opened at Ezibeleni police station and a task team has been despatched to look for the child.

“Representative newspaper also had an alert published last week and photos of the child were circulated,” Mdleleni said.

She urged anyone with information to come forward or contact the Ezibeleni police on 047-873-1051. —