Cape Town - A 24-old woman with down syndrome who disappeared more than a week ago has been safely reunited with her family.
Tyresa Spark went missing while playing in front of her house in Taaibos Road on October 1, just after 3pm.
Her mother, Susan Jacobs, pleaded with people to come forward with any information regarding her daughter’s whereabouts.
On Thursday, Bonteheuwel ward councillor, Angus McKenzie, informed the Cape Argus via a video call that she had been found.
“I have someone who wants to say hello…,” he said while turning the phone to Spark.
A very calm Spark said: “Hello aunty, I am okay.”
According to McKenzie, someone who saw the news about Spark’s disappearance realised that he had seen her in the Dunoon area where he works.
“I couldn’t believe it, I got into my car and raced down to Dunoon.
“After looking in Bonteheuwel, Langa, Woodstock, she was found in Dunoon, I am so happy.”
Spark’s aunty, Nazlie Abduramaan, could not stop happily giggling when contacted.
“When the councillor called me, he just said I need to meet him at the police station, it’s urgent … my heart nearly stood still.
“Then he said she’s been safely found.
“I was flooded with emotion, I even stopped a car passing my house to ask for a lift to the police station, I just needed to see her with my own eyes.”
Abduramaan said the young woman explained that she walked to Dunoon with someone.
“She doesn’t speak much about how and what happened, so we waiting on social workers to help in this regard.
“We are just so thankful that we didn't find her in a hospital or the morgue.”
She said when they got home, the first thing Spark did was order was juice, biscuits and chips.
Abduramaan thanked the reader for reporting the sighting of Spark.
She also thanked McKenzie for actively looking and gathering search groups to find Spark.
“Everyday he went out to look for her, he put it on social media, he checked up on the family, thank you councillor.”
McKenzie thanked everyone for pulling their weight and looking for Spark.
Police spokesperson, FC van Wyk, confirmed Spark has been reunited with her family.
Cape Argus