News Western Cape

A TALE OF TWO PARENTS - Patricia Makok is celebrating the return of her child, while George Thompson continues to search for his daughter

Marsha Dean and Kim Swartz|Published

DELFT dad George Thompson and the Western Cape Missing Persons Unit crime fighters, led by Candice van der Rheede, searched far and wide yesterday for his nine-year-old daughter Akahlulwa Qwili. 

Akahlulwa disappeared from her Delft South home last Monday and after the unit conducted a search yesterday, they had still found no leads. 

A worried Thompson told the Daily Voice: “Her sister’s friend said that she last saw Akahlulwa on Friday in Delft South near Symphony Way.

“I told them that when they see her again, they should not rush to tell us but first inform an adult that is around at that moment and say that she is missing and the parents are looking for her. So that that adult can take her to the police station because when we followed up then she was not there again.

“I trust and believe that God is keeping her safe.

“We want to appeal to anyone especially in the Delft community that if they spot Akahlulwa or know any information that can help us find her, to please speak out and inform the police. 

“I will not rest until my daughter is safe back at home.” 

While Thompson is hoping for a miracle, Phumlani Village mom Patricia Makok already got hers on Monday when a kidnapping attempt on her daughter was foiled by two Lotus River do-gooders Rudy Roman and Faanie Olivier. 

Makok, 43, said her heart stopped when she realised her youngster dogtertjie had vanished, fearing the next call would be that her child had been raped or murdered.

The mother of the five-year-old meisie told the Daily Voice that she was cleaning the house and thought her daughter was playing outside with her friends.

Makok explained: “She wasn’t there with her friends and I asked each one of them where she was; because how the hell could they not know where the child was?

“I can’t explain how I felt when I realised that the child was gone. Ek het gedink my kind kom dood terug.”

Her daughter had been abducted and, amazingly, she was rescued by Roman and Olivier. 

They acted quickly by apprehending the suspect and took him to Grassy Park police station.  The 41-year-old suspect is set to appear in the Wynberg Magistrate’s Court on 27 November.

Of her daughter’s near-miraculous return, Makok said: “When the police came here along with two men who rescued the child, and I thanked them and I asked that the Lord bless them.”

Meanwhile, anyone with information about Akahlulwa’s whereabouts is kindly requested to contact the investigating officer, Detective Warrant Officer Ayanda Ndaba on 073 423 0049 or Crime Stop on 08600 10111.

SEARCH: Western Cape Missing Persons Unit's Candice van der Rheede

Image: File