Cape Town - Missing Children SA’s Bianca van Aswegen said they were hopeful that new evidence would come to light so that 5-year-old Lee-Virno van Wyk from Upington did not become another “forgotten” cold case.
More than two years have passed since Van Wyk mysteriously disappeared while playing with a group of friends after school.
Van Aswegen’s plea comes just days after the mother of missing 6-yearold Joshlin Smith made an appearance in the Vredenberg Magistrate’s Court, together with Jacquen Appollis, Steveno van Rhyn and Lourentia Lombaard.
The group are facing charges of human trafficking for purposes of exploitation. The trial is expected to be heard in the Western Cape High Court soon.
But while the search continues for Joshlin, little Van Wyk remains missing. Van Wyk, who was in Grade R at Intermediêre Louisvaleweg school, disappeared on May 31, 2022.
He had visited his uncle’s home, where he left his bag and jacket before heading off with his friends and was never seen again. Van Aswegen said they would continue to circulate his photograph in hopes that his case would have a breakthrough.
“There have been no new updates or any information on his disappearance. We ask that anyone with any information please contact Missing Children South Africa or your nearest police station.
“It is important that we keep cases such as Lee-Virno’s alive so that these children never get forgotten.
“There are many families in desperate need of closure in cases where children have been missing for many years, we need to keep these cases alive and make sure everything possible is done to give these families the closure they so desperately need.
“We have seen cases of children that have been missing for many years being found safe and reunited with their families, so there is always that hope in any cold case.
“Someone out there knows something and might have the answer to where Lee-Virno is, so we plead to the public to please share his flyer as far and as wide as possible in the hope that we might get the lead we need to find him,” Van Aswegen said.
Chaz Thomas of Track n Trace missing persons organisation agreed.
“We will continue to assist with this case and we ask people near and far to share his photograph,” said Thomas.
Police spokesperson Timothy Sam previously said there had been no new developments in the case. Yesterday, police did not respond to queries about the latest developments. Van Wyk’s uncle, Maxwell van Wyk, said the family were not giving up hope.
“There has been no new developments in the case and it has been two years,” he said.
“The search has stopped on the ground but the investigation continues with the police.”
He said that various parts of Upington were searched, including dumping sites and farms, and that the police’s K9 unit was also present. The friends Van Wyk had played with on the day he vanished were also questioned.
Cape Argus