Elsies River was on high alert yesterday, as police residents and missing persons organisations resumed their search for three-year-old Courtney.
The child vanished last Thursday, after her mom Juanita, 42, set off for work and left her with her seven-year-old brother Adrian.
Police officers had collected CCTV footage from a nearby garage and played it for the anxious parents.
Courtney’s dad Aaron Fourie was with mom Juanita, holding onto her as they watched the video clip.
The relief that it was not her in the video was evident as Juanita sagged against Aaron, saying: “ Dit issie sy nie. Daai issie my kind nie.”
An emotional Juanita has pleaded with everyone to pray for her daughter’s safe return, but so far five days of searching have turned up nothing.
Aaron mostly avoids speaking to the media, and Juanita says he “cannot deal with any of this”.
Little Adrian is a cheerful boy, asking everyone if they are going to fetch his sister.
“Sy moet nou huistoe kom,” says the cute little boy.
Juanita has not slept in days, fear for her daughter and exhaustion is etched on her face.
“I wake up suddenly and scream for anyone to say if Courtney is home yet. I just want my child back please, just send her back to me,” says the broken mother.
Community members resumed their search at 11am yesterday.
The Mitchells Plain Crime Forum came out again to assist as they had on Sunday.
Every open area in Salberau, including dump sites in the immediate surrounds, were combed by the search party.
People even climbed into drains to check for a shred of fabric or anything that looked even remotely like the yellow striped shirt and blue shorts Courtney wore when she was last seen.
People came from neighbouring communities to assist in the search.
Mitchells Plain Crime Forum spokesperson, Faizel Brown, and his team left no stone unturned as they checked and rechecked the immediate vicinity.
At about 3.30pm the police arrived and started a door-to-door search. Some people felt it should have been done sooner, and not five days later.
Captain Walters told the family they had followed up on a lead in Clarke Estate, but nothing had come of it.
The investigating officer and a team of about six officers went with community members from door to door.
Family spokesperson Celeste Adonis says she does not know what will happen.
“Somebody knows something and they need to come forward. We just want her home safe where she belongs,” she said.
The community vowed not to stop until Courtney is found.
Anyone with information that could lead to her whereabouts can contact Warrant Officer Lawrence on 021 933 0308 or 079 894 0107.
Alternatively, contact Pink Ladies on 072 214 7439, 083 378 4882 or 072 620 7704.