Search for Miguel, 9, continues
IT HAS been another frustrating week for the family of missing 9-year-old Sydenham boy Miguel Louw.
Through the assistance of some Good Samaritans, the boy’s family were able, last week, to raise a R50000 reward for information that would lead to the whereabouts of Miguel, who was reported missing 27 days ago.
But his father, Kirk Louw, said there was “nothing new”..
“We thought that the reward would help us to get somewhere, but we’ve got no calls about Miguel,” said Louw.
Miguel, a pupil at Rippon Road Primary, was last seen near the KFC outlet on Dr RD Naidu (Stanley Copley) Drive.
A 43-year-old man, who is known to the boy’s mother, Raylene, was arrested last month and faced abduction and human trafficking charges.
The accused, who cannot be named, made another appearance before Durban Regional Court magistrate Mohamed Motala this week.
People in the gallery demanded to know where the boy was, but the man was unmoved. Motala was incensed by the State’s latest application for a postponement.
The court was previously told the SAPS Organised
Crime unit had taken over investigations and the matter was postponed on that basis.
When State prosecutor Patrick Mogoda requested a further adjournment for police investigations to continue, Motala wanted to know what had happened since the last court sitting.
Motala also appealed to the accused to share any information he had about the child’s whereabouts, but the accused said nothing.
Instead he complained to the magistrate about being assaulted in the police station holding cells where he was being kept.
Motala ordered that the man be transferred to Westville prison before adjourning the matter to August 29.
Louw appreciated Motala’s heartfelt appeal to the suspect to share information.
“He (Motala) tried his best but that too didn’t work. It seemed like the magistrate was speaking from the heart. It was like Miguel was his own grandchild,” said Louw.
He and family and friends have kept up the daily search and calls in the hope of finding positive leads, said Louw.
“It has been very frustrating for us, but we haven’t given up hope of finding Miguel,” said Louw.
SAPS spokesperson Colonel Thembeka Mbele said the search continued. “Anyone with information is urged to contact Captain Maphumulo at 083 979 7422, Sydenham police at 0312032707 or Crime Stop at 0860010111,” said Mbele.