Community effort secures missing girl’s safe return
Chantè Donnelly, who went missing on Tuesday afternoon, has returned home safely.
GREAT team effort and community spirit secured the safe return of 10-year-old Chantè Donnolly after she went missing on Tuesday, 20 January.
Pinetown SAPS returned Chantè to her foster family, who she has been living with for the past five years. It is believed she was taken home after an Ashley family found her wandering in Hamilton Road, Ashley. Her photo and name were circulated to aid search operations.
Keith Snyman, vice-chairman of the Ashley Residents’ Neighbourhood Watch, said he received a call from her foster father at about 1pm.
“I went to the premises, interviewed the domestic worker and obtained a description of the little girl. It was then circulated to all Ashley Residents’ Neighbourhood Watch patrollers and an intensive search was conducted,” Snyman said.
Residents in the area who had seen the girl were interviewed as well, and patrollers searched from the time the call was received until they received information that she was home safely.
“What an awesome job by all involved in physical searches in rivers , bushes and other areas, as well as Ashley residents who assisted in the search. Thanks also to SACan and our neighbours, Pineridge Neighbourhood Watch,” Snyman said.
