In the first case, 13-year-old Nthabiseng Molete was last seen by her mother Pulane Molete on 12 June, leaving their home at 18:00. It’s alleged the 13-year-old, who was dressed in a black pair of pants, yellow jacket, and black grasshopper shoes, was accustomed to sleeping over at one of her friends’ houses and it was assumed that she would return. The Grade 7 learner at Moremaphofu Primary School has, however, not been seen since. Her mom approached the police for assistance on 14 June. 

In the second incident, the 8-year-old Bokamoso Shabe was abducted by an unknown woman on Monday 21 June 2021 at 13:30 from the Mmantshebo Primary School.

Shabe’s grandmother was shortly thereafter called telephonically by a man referred to as only “Aubrey” who demanded that the family pay him R50 000 or he will kill the 8-year-old school girl. The 8-year-old’s grandmother was again contacted on Tuesday with the same ultimatum, however, this time the call came from a woman calling herself Nthabeleng. It appears there are no leads and authorities are requesting the public’s assistance.

Makhele says “on the day of her disappearance, the little girl was wearing a school uniform, a white shirt, grey and white jersey, grey skirt and black shoes. She is dark in complexion”. He urges anyone with information to come forward to local authorities.

The latter incident bears a similar resemblance to the kidnapping of then 6-year-old Amy'Leigh de Jager in Vanderbijlpark, Gauteng, in 2019.  At the time four men snatched Amy'Leigh from her mother's car at Laerskool Kollegepark and drove off in a white Toyota Fortuner. The kidnappers initially demanded R2 million for her release. It was later found that a teacher was the mastermind behind the kidnapping. All four accused in the matter were later sentenced to up to 10 years in jail in September 2020 for extortion and kidnapping.

OFM News