“I believe Tazne is alive. I want to know where my child is.”
These are the desperate words of mom Carmen van Wyk, who has begged her child’s alleged kidnapper, Moehydien Pangaker, to say where her missing daughter Tazne is following his arrest on Monday night.
Pangaker, 54, who had evaded police for nearly 10 days, was nabbed in Cradock in the Eastern Cape, more than 700km from Ravensmead, where he was last seen with his eight-year-old neighbour.
'GOT HIM': Moehydien Pangaker has finally been nabbed in Cradock in the Eastern Cape
Cradock police said Pangaker was arrested on
Monday at 10.15pm, but did not explain how he had been traced.
“This office can confirm that the alleged suspect who can apparently be linked to the disappearance of the minor child was arrested in the Cradock police precinct on Monday at about 10.15pm.
"The 54-year-old suspect will appear in the Cradock Magistrate's Court soon. The missing minor has not been found yet.”
Police have not confirmed whether he will be brought back to Cape Town.
The child’s mom says the news of his arrest spread like wildfire, but her hopes of being reunited with the Grade 3 pupil from Eurecon Primary School were dashed when she was told Pangaker remained toebek about
Tazne’s whereabouts.
PLEA: Dad Terence Manuel and mom Carmen van Wyk
“We want him to tell us where he left her or if he left her with someone, and if he has her with him. That is all we expect for him,” says
Carmen, 28.
Father Terence Manuel, 31, says: “It’s (been) very hectic. I’m the father of the child and I feel useless because I can’t do nothing to get her (Tazne) because that is the police’s work.
"But every time the police come here and ask us for information, it’s like we must investigate our own case and they will handle it from there.”
Terence also questions how Pangaker managed to leave Cape Town unnoticed.
“Look where the police found him, in Cradock. How could he have left Cape Town so quickly if his face is all over the media?
“All I want to ask him is just tell us where Tazne is because we miss our child.”
MISSING: Tazne van Wyk
Carmen says Pangaker’s arrest has sparked fears that Tazne is dead, but she believes her child is alive.
A source said Pangaker was traced electronically before the police pounced.
The Daily Voice can also reveal he answered phone calls from relatives, who begged him to return on Saturday. At that stage, he revealed he was in Grabouw, but denied having Tazne.
In the recorded call, which was handed to police, he is heard saying: “ Hoeveel keer moet ek sê wat moet ek met die kind maak?”
His relative begs him to hand himself in, but he continually denies having Tazne with him.