As the search for eight-year-old Tazne van Wyk enters its fifth day, the Daily Voice can reveal that the man wanted in connection with her kidnapping was previously convicted of killing his two-year-old son.
Now the daughter of Moehydien Pangaker is publicly pleading with him to bring the little Ravensmead girl back safely.
Monique, 32, tells the Daily Voice that Pangaker is a “sick person” and she fears for Tazne’s life.
A Daily Voice investigation can reveal that the 54-year-old man has been incarcerated five times, twice in Pollsmoor Prison.
‘SIEK MENS’: Moehydien Pangaker, 54
According to police records, which the Daily Voice has seen, Pangaker has a long list of convictions, which include culpable homicide, burglary, theft and abduction dating back to 1981.
He was released on parole in Ladismith in 2016.
The records show the man accused of snatching the Grade 3 learner from Eurecon Primary School, just metres from her home in Clare Street on Friday, was charged with the murder of his
toddler son in Ladismith in 2001.
But this charge was reduced to culpable homicide and he was sentenced to 16 months in the mang.
The records also reveal that he has known addresses in Ladismith, Elsies River and Hanover Park.
GROWING FEARS: Tazne van Wyk
Speaking to the Daily Voice on Monday, Pangaker’s daughter says her parents were married in Elsies River when she was a baby but when she turned 11, her mother divorced him.
“He was in prison for murdering his own son in Ladismith, where they found the child was abused and had cigarette burns,” reveals Monique.
“I don’t know how long he was in prison, but I know that was more than 15 years ago.
“My mother left him and we don’t really have contact with him, but he came to Elsies in December.”
According to the records, Moehydien was charged with assault in Worcester in December.
In a shocking twist, Monique reveals that when he visited her in Elsies River in December, he tried to snatch her 11-year-old son, but she stopped him.
“My mother always told me he is a siek mens and I must not let him near my children.
“He tried to take my son but I stopped him. We didn’t know where he went after that.”
SAD: Monique Pangaker says her father was jailed for killing his toddler son and also raped a relative.
Monique says after her dad was named in newspaper reports for being sought by police in connection with
Tazne’s disappearance, she became worried.
“I want to plead with him to please bring that innocent child back. I want him to think how he would feel as a father if a man in his 50s had taken me as a small girl,” she says.
“He would also be worried. I am begging him to bring her back.”
Monique has also revealed that last year her father was accused of raping a relative in Cape Town and the woman recently gave birth to his child.
“It is true he raped her and she got pregnant, but he ran away before he could be charged.
"She gave birth to the baby two weeks ago,” she adds.
AID: Army soldiers have joined the search.
The Western Cape Missing Persons Unit director, Candice van der Rheede, says the search continues, but has cautioned the public not to share unverified information, which led the search party on a wild-goose chase.
Meanwhile, Tazne’s father,
Terence, says the family is
devastated and are struggling to cope.