A Bloekombos family say they are having sleepless nights, hoping for the safe return of Anathi Sikhafungana, a 20-year-old mother from Wallacedene who was allegedly kidnapped earlier this month.
The family are urging anyone with information about her disappearance to come forward.
According to her uncle, Michael Sikhafungana, Anathi was last seen at her boyfriend’s home, on Wednesday September 12, after night-school classes at Bloekombos Primary School.
The family had thought Anathi would spend the rest of the night at her boyfriend’s house but they had grown worried when she had not returned home the following night.
“We asked her boyfriend what happened to her, but he said he left for work and thought Anathi headed home,” said Mr Sikhafungana.
He said the police had ignored the family’s appeals to search for Anathi, despite the family showing them messages from Anathi’s phone, purportedly sent by her abductor.
Northern News is in possession of a message attached to a picture of Anathi crying. The message says: “She is still alive, I won’t hurt or kill her. I just want to make money with her. She is so sweet. When I am done with her, I will tell you where you must go and fetch her. I’m not that bad I just need money.”
The uncle said the family were “in a bad state” but would continue searching for Anathi as her two-year-old daughter needed her.
Asked if he had any idea who would want to abduct Anathi, he said: “I have two people in mind, but I don’t want to mention names. All we want to do is find my niece and bring her back.”
Kraaifontein police station commander Brigadier Gerda Van Niekerk declined to comment, saying, “My detectives are busy with this investigation, and I don’t want to jeopardise the investigation.”