Search for missing Delft girl continues; mother praises rescuers

The search for missing nine-year-old Akahlulwa Qwili from Delft is ongoing. On Wednesday, her father, George Thompson, joined forces with the Western Cape Missing Persons Unit, led by Candice van der Rheede, to conduct an extensive search for his daughter.

Akahlulwa disappeared from her Delft South home last Monday, and despite the unit's efforts on Wednesday, no leads have been found.

A worried Thompson told the Cape Argus sister publication, Daily Voice: “Her sister’s friend said that she last saw Akahlulwa on Friday in Delft South near Symphony Way.

“I told them that when they see her again, they should not rush to tell us but first inform an adult that is around at that moment and say that she is missing and the parents are looking for her. So that that adult can take her to the police station because when we followed up then she was not there again.

“I trust and believe that God is keeping her safe.

“We want to appeal to anyone especially in the Delft community that if they spot Akahlulwa or know any information that can help us find her, to please speak out and inform the police. 

“I will not rest until my daughter is safe back at home.” 

While Thompson is hoping for a miracle, Phumlani Village mom Patricia Makok already got hers on Monday when a kidnapping attempt on her daughter was foiled by two Lotus River Samaritans Rudy Roman and Faanie Olivier. 

Makok, 43, said her heart stopped when she realised her youngster daughter had disappeared, fearing the next call would be that her child had been raped or murdered.

The mother of the five-year-old girl said that she was cleaning the house and thought her daughter was playing outside with her friends.

Makok explained: “She wasn’t there with her friends and I asked each one of them where she was; because how the could they not know where the child was?

“I can’t explain how I felt when I realised that the child was gone. Ek het gedink my kind kom dood terug.” (I thought my child would come back dead)

Her daughter had been abducted and, amazingly, she was rescued by Roman and Olivier. 

They acted quickly by apprehending the suspect and took him to Grassy Park police station.  The 41-year-old suspect is set to appear in the Wynberg Magistrate’s Court on Thursday, November 27.

Of her daughter’s near-miraculous return, Makok said: “When the police came here along with two men who rescued the child, and I thanked them and I asked that the Lord bless them.”

Meanwhile, anyone with information about Akahlulwa’s whereabouts is kindly requested to contact the investigating officer, Detective Warrant Officer Ayanda Ndaba on 073 423 0049 or Crime Stop on 08600 10111.

Get your news on the go, click here to join the Cape Argus News WhatsApp channel.

Cape Argus