As the search for eight-year-old Tazne van Wyk enters its 10th day, her heartbroken mother says she is hopeful her first-born child will be found safe and sound.
Meanwhile, the family of her alleged kidnapper, Moehydien Pangaker, 54, have revealed that he left a suitcase behind containing girls' clothing.
Hundreds of volunteers gathered at the Ravensmead girl’s home on Saturday as they participated in a door-to-door search for the Grade 3 learner from Eurecon Primary School, who was snatched just metres away from her home in Clare Street on 7 February.
The search led by the Western Cape Missing Persons Unit (WCMPU) saw volunteers scouring bushes and open veldjies to find any sign of the child.
Mayor Dan Plato joined volunteers and told the Daily Voice that after searching various areas, they were unable to find any leads.
“We scanned the Uitsig area and also parts of Belhar, that was the area designated to us by the management of the search,” he said.
“We scanned quite a large, vast area of vacant land, but we could not find anything. Unfortunately we could not find her alive or dead.”
On Saturday, Tazne’s mom, Carmen van Wyk, 28, said the girl’s disappearance has devastated the family, but she is trying to remain positive.
“I don’t have words, it’s already day eight. What can I say and what can I do? All I can do is have hope that she will come back,” she says.
“I can’t explain it but every day it gets worse, especially with all the stories. But I don’t let it bother me. I still sit with the hope that we will get her back safely.”
Pangaker’s niece, who lives in the home where he stayed for a week prior to Tazne’s disappearance, says while cops continually search their home, they opened a suitcase he had left behind and discovered the children’s clothing in it.
“They came about four times and each time they find nothing,” says the 27-year-old woman, who asked not to be named.
“We gave them the suitcase that Uncle Moehydien left here behind the couch.
“You can see here it’s just cables and this woollen girl’s pantihose. We don’t know who it belongs to or what he was doing with it.
“We don’t mind the searches and we have helped the police as far as we can.
“There are lots of stories going around, but I can only tell you what I know.”
ALARM: Moehydien’s suitcase had girls' clothing. Picture: Monique Duval
Witnesses saw Pangaker with Tazne on 7 February, the day both disappeared.
The niece does not agree with Pangaker’s actions, and also revealed he had planned to fetch her seven-year-old daughter from school without her consent, just days before Tazne went missing.
“My aunty stopped him and she said it seemed strange, but this only came out after Tazne went missing. We don’t know why he would say he is going to fetch my child,” she says.
WCMPU director Candice van der Rheede says during the searches, information was gathered about Pangaker’s movements across various areas shortly after Tazne went missing.
“There were about 300 volunteers and the info gathered will be handed over to police. We now know more of his movements and can expand the search.”
Anyone who has seen Tazne or Pangaker can call Sergeant Dale Franks on 082 334 8772.
Community Safety MEC Albert Fritz has offered a R10 000 reward for information leading to their location.