Eight-year-old girl goes missing, half-brother flees

Police in Letsitele outside Tzaneen, Limpopo, have launched a manhunt for the half-brother of a missing eight-year-old girl.
The young girl disappeared on Monday afternoon, 27 July, at Zangoma village in Shipungu section.

Police spokesperson, Brigadier Motlafela Mojapelo said the matter was reported to the police on Tuesday and the boy was last seen walking with the girl the day she went missing.

“The child, Mabareki Carlifonia Molamodi, pictured, was reportedly left with a caregiver, who is also a family member as her mother is said to be working on one of the farms in the area. The child was left by the caregiver for a few minutes when she allegedly went to fetch water to bath her, but when she returned, the child was nowhere to be found.”

After preliminary police investigations, it was revealed that the child was seen in the company of her half-brother Fanuel Makhubele, walking to a shop in the area.
“He later reportedly told some community members that the child was abducted by unknown men travelling in a Toyota Quantum.

“Fanuel Makhubele is now being sought by the police to come and shed more light on the whereabouts of the child. Both his cellphones have since been off,” Mojapelo said.

Limpopo Police Commissioner Lieutenant General Nneke Ledwaba has directed the district commissioner to urgently launch a task team to conduct an intense search operation.

“As we continue fighting crimes perpetrated against women and children, an incident like this requires a speedy reaction from everyone. I, therefore, call on community members to assist the police in this search operation,” said Ledwaba .

Anyone with information about Fanuel Makhubele and, or the eight-year-old child should please contact Colonel Cecil Machimani on 082 451 7181 or the Crime Stop number 0860010111.