Missing teen found alive, unconscious near Komani
A KOMANI teen who went missing more than a week ago was found unconscious on Friday morning 5km outside the town by a Komani-based security company.
Siphesande Sibulele Nogela, 19, known to his friends as George, is in Grade 11 at the Royal Academy High School in Komani.
He was last seen on his way to school on March 14. When he was found nine days later he was dehydrated, unconscious and still in his school uniform.
After his disappearance, the community of Komani worked with police to launch a massive search but found no trace of him.
His aunt, Zandile Gobeni, said they also posted his photo and asked for help on social media.
“We received good support from the community and people who viewed our posts and we kept them updated,” she said.
Gobeni said when the youth was found, he was disoriented and starving.
“He was returning home after spending nine days alone in the bush, not eating or drinking water. We think he needed space. He had not been abducted,” she said.
Gobeni said Nogela was still recovering in hospital, where he is being kept sedated and on a drip.
“I want to thank Komani police, Red Guard security, my church, councillor Zuko Mandile and councillor Sakhumzi Mkhunqe, ANC members, Royal Academy High School, Imbono FJA Architects and the doctors and staff of Frontier Hospital who were with us during this period,” she said.
She also thanked the social media community for helping in the search.
Police spokeswoman Captain Namhla Mdleleni said: “The police, working with the community, conducted searches trying to find him. He was found near the Uitsig farm 5km outside of Komani by Red Guard security on Friday morning.”
Mdleleni said Nogela was found unconscious, and was taken to Frontier Hospital, where he still is.
Komani police cluster commander Major General Funeka Siganga commended his officers for their assistance.
Red Guard security promised to issue a written statement on the matter by 3pm yesterday, but had not sent the statement by the time of going to print. —