No Mother's Day celebration for Manenberg mom as son remains missing
Maksudi Schrotz.
Image: File
While other mothers might get spoiled on Sunday, a Manenberg mom remains devastated as she has not seen her son for four years after his father allegedly snatched him to another country.
Niccaylia Arries said that her son, Maksudi Schrotz, would have celebrated his 13th birthday on Wednesday, but unfortunately she remains yearning for his presence since April 2022.
She said the last time she saw him, he was collected by his father Ramadan Maksudi from their home in Gail Court.
“I met his father Ramadan Maskudi more than 10 years ago. He is from Burundi and we later broke up but he was always involved in my child’s life.
“He did not pay child support but he came to visit and so on.
“On 10 April he came to me and said he is taking the child to the barber so I said yes because his hair was thick.
“He messaged me to say the child was sleeping by him and I told him he must come home because it is school and he can go for the Easter Weekend but he insisted that the child must stay.
“He messaged me back when I checked up on the child but then all of a sudden he stopped responding.”
She opened a missing persons case, however, said she was told that due to the father not having a fixed address, they were unable to find him.
According to a statement written by the investigating officer at the time, they stated that the child might be illegally in Burundi.
MOM Niccaylia Arries.
Image: File
The letter states: “Mrs Arries reported that the father of Maksudi Schrotz took the child to allegedly cut his hair, but took the child who was taken through Burundi. According to the mother, she reported that the child no longer wanted to be with the father and is longing to come back to South Africa. She does not recall that the child has a passport and might be illegal in the country of Burundi.”
Arries said she is so shattered as she could not wish her son a happy birthday.
“He didn’t even ask if he could come to fetch the child for that Easter weekend, but never returned with my son.
“I am begging him to bring my child home, he needs to be with his mother.”
The SAPS had not responded to requests for an update on the matter by the time of publication.