Daughter looking for closure after father’s disappearance
"My father had arteriosclerosis and Alzheimer's. When he came to South Africa he was confused. He still thought he was in Argentina."
By Stephan Lehman
Marais Steyn Park resident and daughter Amalia Grispo, is appealing to the public for any information regarding her missing father, Abel Soria.
Her dad disappeared in 1988 at the age of 82. He was last seen on Raleigh Street in Yeoville.
“He went for a walk and just disappeared,” said 73-year-old Amalia.
She said the domestic worker tried to stop him from leaving but Abel never listened.
Edenvale resident Amalia Grispo is appealing to community members for any information on her father (right in photograph) who went missing in 1988 from Raleigh Street in Yeoville.
Amalia said she understands that her father is most likely dead, but she would like some closure on the matter.
Amalia and her family lived in Argentina before coming to South Africa.
The choice to move was made after Amalia and her family came to visit South Africa for a few weeks in 1980.
“There were political complications in Argentina at the time. There were economic issues and the Falklands War and things were very bad,” explained Amalia.
Amalia and her daughter moved to Yeoville when they arrived in South Africa.
An article about Abel’s disappearance published in the North Eastern Tribune.
Her dad followed in 1985 when his wife died.
“My father had arteriosclerosis and Alzheimer’s and when he came to South Africa he was confused. He still thought he was in Argentina,” said Amalia.
Prior to disappearing Abel had gone missing on two other occasions but he was luckily found by community members the first time and the police the second time.
A photograph of Abel Soria (right) taken shortly before he went missing in 1988.
Amalia and her brother scoured police stations, hospitals, old age homes and morgues between Johannesburg and Pretoria after her father’s disappearance.
When Amalia reported her father’s disappearance to the Argentinian Consulate she said the consulate found the matter strange and believed something had been done to the old man.
Despite reporting the disappearance to the Yeoville SAPS and putting articles in the North Eastern Tribune, no information about Amalia’s father surfaced.
“I feel very sad, we tried and tried and tried to find him but couldn’t. After my mother died the family decided to bring him to South Africa so that he could enjoy his last few years in comfort and around family,” said Amalia.
Abel could not speak English or Afrikaans. At the time of his disappearance he was wearing brown pants and a green jersey.
Amalia urges anyone with information to email her at amalias@vodamail.co.za
A photograph of Abel Soria taken shortly before he went missing in 1988.
