Police search for missing Lobatse boy

Tumelo Mouwane | Wednesday July 8, 2015 16:12

Investigations underwayParents urged to closely monitor children

Woodhall Police Detective Superintendent and District Criminal Investigation Officer, David Maruatona told Mmegi that a family member had reported the boy’s disappearance at about 2030hrs on the same evening that he went missing. 

 

“A family member told us that the boy did not return to school at lunchtime. They waited until evening, but he still did not come home.

“His teacher and classmates were the last to see him but they had no idea where he could be.  Our investigations, which are still at an initial stage, are already underway. We will involve members of the community as well as area dikgosi to help us look for the boy,” he said.

The investigating officer Detective Constable Boitshoko Ramontsho said that the boy, who has been described as light in complexion and about a metre tall, was last seen wearing a blue school uniform tracksuit, black socks and black school shoes.

Meanwhile, Maruatona said that such incidents are rare in his policing area, stating that most missing persons’ matters are usually absconded patients at Sbrana Psychiatric Hospital.

“Incidents of missing people reported, are usually from the Sbrana Psychiatric hospital when patients abscond from the facility but we usually find and return them to the hospital,” he said.

Maruatona advised parents and guardians to closely monitor their children in order to avoid situations where they realise too late that they have gone missing. He added that in instances where children go missing, parents should report the cases to the police immediately.

His teacher and classmates last saw Vitombiko Ndau, who has vanished without a trace, after school on July 2, 2015.

Woodhall Police Detective Superintendent and District Criminal Investigation Officer, David Maruatona told Mmegi that a family member had reported the boy’s disappearance at about 2030hrs on the same evening that he went missing. 

“A family member told us that the boy did not return to school at lunchtime. They waited until evening, but he still did not come home.

“His teacher and classmates were the last to see him but they had no idea where he could be.  Our investigations, which are still at an initial stage, are already underway. We will involve members of the community as well as area dikgosi to help us look for the boy,” he said.

The investigating officer Detective Constable Boitshoko Ramontsho said that the boy, who has been described as light in complexion and about a metre tall, was last seen wearing a blue school uniform tracksuit, black socks and black school shoes.

Meanwhile, Maruatona said that such incidents are rare in his policing area, stating that most missing persons’ matters are usually absconded patients at Sbrana Psychiatric Hospital.

“Incidents of missing people reported, are usually from the Sbrana Psychiatric hospital when patients abscond from the facility but we usually find and return them to the hospital,” he said.

Maruatona advised parents and guardians to closely monitor their children in order to avoid situations where they realise too late that they have gone missing. He added that in instances where children go missing, parents should report the cases to the police immediately.