Mother's heartache as search for missing daughter continues

Months have passed since Mishaadien Stemmet went missing, and her mother, Shamielah McConnie, is left to bear the heavy burden of uncertainty and the desperate hope for her daughter's safe return. 

McConnie said that the past few months of not hearing any news about her teen daughter’s disappearance has been very heartbreaking for her.

The 19-year-old woman was last seen leaving her aunt’s home in Old Woodlands, Mitchells Plain, on May 7 last year.

McConnie said: “I asked my mother and sister-in-law and they said as per normal she got dressed and she went out. 

“Then my brother’s daughter asked her, ‘where are you going, why are you looking so nice’. And Mishaadien said, ‘no, it’s only rich people that wear nice stuff and that can go out’. She likes to make jokes like that.”

She said that detectives have been communicating with her sister-in-law who opened the case and has been asking her for updates, however no positive leads have been received.

She explained: “Last month my sister-in-law let me know that the detective was at her house to fetch clothes to go and take their dogs to search for Mishaadien in Heinz Park, because one of her friends said they saw her there, but they couldn’t tell us when and the cops didn’t find anything.

The last time McConnie heard from her daughter was a day after her disappearance when she messaged her on Facebook past midnight asking why she was online so late, but she has not heard from her since.

The mom said that cops had questioned her friends and all contacts linked to Mishaadien that her mom had, but none of the information has led to her.

McConnie said: “On New Year’s Day, it was very heartbreaking. I was crying so much. My only wish is to only see her face, I want to hear her voice, I want to hold her.

“I even miss that she works on my nerves. I miss her so much. It’s killing me so much inside.”

Police spokesperson Captain FC van Wyk previously said that Mishaadien was last seen leaving a residence in Orpheus Crescent, Woodlands, after being reported as missing by her aunt on May 27 at Lentegeur SAPS and confirmed the investigations continue.

Anyone with information on the whereabouts of Mishaadien can contact Detective Sergeant Ivan Ryneveld on 083 648 6239 or Crime Stop on 08600 10111.

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Cape Argus