Mom’s pain over missing daughter as search continues
FOR the past four nights, Anela Sithongo, from Khayelitsha, has slept with her phone next to her pillow hoping she will hear her missing 12-yearold daughter, Lunamandla, has been found safe.
Lunamandla, fondly known as Luna, was last seen by her mother on Thursday morning boarding her scholar transportation in front of their Site B home in TR Section.
The Grade 6 learner never made it to her class in Eastville Primary School in Mitchells Plain.
She has short hair and carried a black Nike school bag.
“I last saw her leaving at 8.30am and past 2pm the driver came back and asked if Luna was at home because when he went to pick her up he was told that she was absent. I was shocked because she has never bunked school, so it was so unlike her.
“I went back to the school with the driver and surprisingly they had no record of her in the screening register for Covid-19 or on the class register. Even her classmates say she never came to school,” Sithongo said.
“The driver says he dropped her off at 9am and watched her walk into the school.”
The mom said after a missing person’s case was opened at the Mitchells Plain police station, a search in the area was initiated.
“We looked everywhere, on fields, in bushes, by the train station and also knocked on people’s doors…
“I am begging anyone who knows her whereabouts to assist.”
Police spokesperson FC Van Wyk said anyone with information can contact Sergeant Mnkomo at Mitchells Plain FCS on 082 522 1066.