UPDATE: Missing police officer is safe

Det W/O Jacques Botha was found in Delmas, at around 10.30pm last night (March 2).

According to his wife, Trudie, he was at his old high school in Sundra.

Trudie said the authorities believe he just had to clear his head, though, she added, he hasn’t spoken much yet.

Botha was presumed missing when he did not arrive for work on Tuesday (March 1).

Authorities launched a search for him and no news surfaced for two days.

“It was a terrible experience and since he had left his cellphones and ID at home, there was no way to contact him,” Trudie said.

“As it became dark on the second day (after he went missing), we started to wonder whether he might be dead.”

Trudie said Botha had acted strangely for the two weeks prior to his disappearance.

He was at home during that time, after he had fallen from a ladder in the bathroom at home.

“Even though I was exhausted, the relief when he was found was…,” an emotional Trudie said, not being able to find the right words.

She said her 21-year-old twin daughters, Feliska and Felicia, were very glad and embraced their father upon his return.

At the time of publication Trudie said Botha was relaxing at home and was not ready to speak to the

media.

Trudie said she was grateful to the CPF and SAPS for doing all they could to trace her husband.

Also read: UPDATE: ‘He drove past me and waved at me’ – wife of missing officer