The mother of a two-year-old boy, who was allegedly kidnapped by her cousin’s boyfriend, says she thought he was making a joke after she intervened in an argument.
Wednesday searches in bushes along Symphony Way in Delft and Philippi continued to find little Oyingcwele Zokufa who went missing on Sunday afternoon near his home in Govan Mbeki in Philippi.
Police are now looking for the boyfriend, 23-year-old Mzimhle Jikwana, to assist in finding the child after he fled.
MANHUNT: Mzimhle Jikwana has ‘kidnapped’ his girlfriend’s cousin’s child innie Philippi. Photo: Supplied
Siphesihle Zokufa told the Daily Voice she tried to calm Jikwana down after he apparently destroyed contents inside the house of her cousin, Aviwe Ndiki, 29, who also lives in Philippi.
Jikwana lives in Crossroads.
“They were arguing after he broke things in her house,” explains Siphesihle.
“I interfered and told him what he did was wrong. The next moment he said he is going to leave and will see us on Friday.”
She says her child had a habit of following Jikwana and that it was not uncommon to see them together.
She says: “The child was outside and followed him.
“People, who were singing outside, didn’t think it was strange because he was always with the child.”
Later she hoped her son’s disappearance was just a joke and thought Jikwana would return him the next day.
“The Sunday we went to his house before 8pm and he and the child were not there,” she explains.
“I thought he was making a joke and waited until the next morning. I went to the police on Monday.”
Aviwe says they were in a relationship for six months and Jikwana has three children of his own.
Police spokesperson Sergeant Noloyiso Rwexana says cops have opened a case of abduction and is looking for Jikwana.
“According to information the mother’s cousin had an argument with her boyfriend and after he left, the child was not found,” she says.
Anyone who knows the whereabouts of Jikwana can contact Detective Sergeant Van Graan on 073 395 6956 or Crime Stop on 08600 10111.