Prayers for missing man
AN ASHERVILLE family have been praying for the safe return of their loved one who went missing two months ago.
Nieshel Roopun, 30, went missing on July 28 after leaving his parents’ Asherville home at about 8pm. He was driving his Hyundai i10 which was later found abandoned and vandalised in Shelly Beach on the South Coast.
Roopun’s brother, Neil, said the family had not been coping well.
"My elderly parents and siblings are struggling to cope. My mom cries all the time, praying for his safe return.
“When he left home, Nieshel said he was going to the garage. There was no contact since. His phone has been off. There were reports a week after his disappearance that someone who looked like him was sighted in Port Shepstone and in Verulam on the same day, which did not make sense.
“His vehicle was found in Shelly Beach parked a little away from the beach. Initially, community members thought it may have belonged to a fisherman. But it was later seen vandalised,” he said.
Neil said they had conducted searches in various spots but had no joy. He said his brother had a good job at the municipality and had no problems with anyone.
“Therefore his disappearance does not make sense. We don’t know if he is still alive or has been kidnapped,” said Neil.
Roopun is among the hundreds of missing people in South Africa.
Dawn Gounden, of Renegades Search & Rescue, said they were searching for a number of people, including Roopun.
“Numerous searches have been conducted in the South Coast area where Nieshel’s vehicle was left abandoned. Family, community police forum members and Renegades Search & Rescue members have done followups, and acted on information given.
“The search continues and his photo is circulated daily,” she said.
Gounden said people went missing every day.
“Every missing person, no matter the circumstances, is treated with utmost priority. The police and missing persons organisations work timeously to help bring closure.
“People go missing for different reasons. Many leave voluntarily and families are distraught by their sudden disappearance.
“Older men and women go missing due to psychological issues such as Alzheimer's or dementia. Some leave because of family feuds.
“Children who go missing are often unsupervised and left in the care of other minors,” said Gounden.
She said teenagers often left home voluntarily, stemming from peer pressure, while some involved themselves in relationships and left home.
“Adults have been placed under duress because of unemployment due to the Covid pandemic, forcing them to borrow money from illegal sources.
“Many are missing because of the increase in substance abuse. They leave
their place of residence in hope to find their next ‘fix’,” she said.
Prem Balram, of security company Reaction Unit SA, said they had seen a drastic increase in the number of missing persons being reported to them from all areas.