R10k reward offered to find missing Katlehong teen Mamello Mokoena
The Katlehong family has issued a cash reward of R 10 000 to find their missing daughter Memello Mokeona who went missing on the evening of January 20.
The Mokoena and Zondiwe family from Tsholo Section, Katlehong, desperately need the public’s help to find their missing daughter Mamello Mokoena (13).
Mokoena was last seen wearing a pink long dress and white sneakers at Motaung Street on January 20. According to her guardian and uncle Siyabonga Zondiwe, Mokoena was at home when her 19-year-old next-door friend fetched her.
They left together, and the friend later returned but Mokoena never came back home to her family.
“We tried to speak to the friend but there was nothing tangible from what she shared. The friend told us that they both went to Mokoena’s boyfriend at Mofukeng Section,” said Zondiwe.
He said they went to the boyfriend’s place and he confirmed they were with him on that day. However, they left to go to Chris Hani Crossing Mall at Vosloorus and that was the last he saw them.
Zondiwe further shared that the friend told them that they also went to her uncle’s place who chased them away before they returned. This was confirmed by the uncle, he added.
“What puzzles me with this story is that there are no specific details of what transpired between 20:00 and 21:00 or 22:00 after they were chased out by the uncle.
“We spoke to the police and a case was reported. The police tried to do investigations but did not yield results. We are running out of time,” said Zondiwe.
He said the neighbours accused the family of harassing their child and applied for a protection order against Mokoena’s family because they questioned the friend in an attempt to establish what could have happened.
“It has affected us in all aspects, financially and mentally, ever since she went missing we cannot sleep. When you go out and see other children return from school you hope that your child would be among them.”
He said he even offered an R10 000 reward to anyone who can help find her. Mokoena’s mother was diagnosed with cancer, she passed away in 2004 leaving her daughter with her brother Zondile.
She has three brothers aged 10, 19 and 21, and a seven-year-old sister.
“We just want closure even if she is no longer alive it is fine, if we could at least find her remains and give her a dignified burial because at this stage we cannot move on,” he said.
Mokoena’s features are a medium-built body, 80kg weight, approximately 1.66 height, brown eyes, black medium-length hair, attached lobes, flat and pierced ears, broad pointed tip nose, thin U, thicker L-shaped cupid’s bow and a black spot scar on the right buttock. Ekuruleni
District Police spokesperson Captain Neldah Sekgobela said a missing person’s case has been registered.
Anyone with information regarding Mokoena’s whereabouts can contact Zondiwe at 065 904 4204. Or the investigating officer Detective Sergeant Vilankulu of Katlehong Family Violence, Child Protection Service and sexual offences unit, at 083727 8111 or 011 617 366.
