The family of John Shabangu, a 49-year-old resident of Dawn Park, is offering a R20 000 reward for credible information leading to his safe return.
John has been missing since February 27. He was last seen leaving his home at around 15:00 on February 27, reportedly to visit friends in Vosloorus.
Later that evening, when his wife, Happy Shabangu, attempted to contact him; she found his phone switched off.
Hours later, the police informed the family his car had been hijacked and later recovered in Vosloorus. There was no trace of John.
Raising concerns about foul play, there were suspicious transactions in his bank account shortly after his disappearance.
John’s wife and siblings are deeply distraught, grappling with uncertainty and fear as they await news regarding his whereabouts.
His siblings, who wish to remain anonymous, expressed their anguish over his disappearance.
“The last time we saw him was in February. We are terrified and worried about what could have happened to our brother. We do not know if he is still alive or not, and we cannot sleep at night.
“John is a peacemaker and a loving father, uncle, brother, and son,” they added.
Also Read: Follow up: Undisclosed amount withdrawn from missing John Shabangu’s account
Happy recounted the last moments before her husband vanished. John’s friend said John left between 18:30 and 19:00 for home, but he never arrived.
“I am not even sure what he was wearing at the time of his disappearance.
“The police told me someone hijacked him and they found his abandoned car in Vosloorus. That made everything more frightening.”
Adding to the distress, she revealed this is not the first traumatic incident her husband has endured.
“He was hijacked and abandoned before. I did not understand what was happening. I am so confused. We are grappling with immense fear and uncertainty as we await answers. We are not coping at all.”
Police investigation and appeal
Local authorities have opened a missing person case at Elsburg Police Station and the Ekurhuleni SAPS is actively investigating John’s disappearance.
SAPS district spokesperson Captain Neldah Sekgobela confirmed despite continued police efforts, he remains unaccounted for.
“We detected suspicious financial transactions in his bank account where someone withdrew an undisclosed amount of money since his disappearance, with the last recorded transaction on March 1,” Sekgobela stated.
Authorities urged the public for any information that could help find John.
“We appeal to anyone who may have seen or interacted with him on the day he went missing to contact us. Every detail, no matter how small, could be crucial in finding him,” Sekgobela emphasised.
The family and police are calling on residents of Dawn Park, Vosloorus and surrounding areas to remain vigilant and report any relevant information.
Contact information
Anyone with information regarding John Shabangu’s whereabouts contact the investigative officer handling the case at 066 045 6609 or report information to Elsburg Police Station.
Also Read: Dawn Park resident missing after hijacking
