Update: Missing Birch Acres woman found in Tembisa
Before she was found, Maria Thema was arrested for shoplifting and released. She then travelled to Alexandra and later to Ivory Park, where she was found.
After going missing for a week and a half, Birch Acres resident Maria Moureen Thema (44) is safely back home.
Maria’s brother, Robert Thema, told Express she was found in Ivory Park in Tembisa on August 3. Maria was reported missing by her family after they last saw her on July 24.
In the interim she was arrested for shoplifting and locked up in the Kempton Park holding cells on July 26, but she was released.
But no one had seen her since her release and they had been searching for her since.
“We got a call from Norkem Park SAPS informing us that they have found Maria,” said Robert.
“We went there and found she was safe. We also discovered that because she isn’t familiar with Kempton Park, she went to Alexandra after being released from the holding cells.
“We are not sure how she managed to get there, but we suspect she was hitch-hiking and asking for taxi fares at times, which landed her in Alexandra. While in Alexandra, she told people there she wanted to go to Tembisa, which was how she landed up in Ivory Park.”
Robert said his sister was walking around and looking for help when she met community members in Ivory Park who called the police.
“The police arrived, and because her missing person report had circulated between police stations, they recognised that she had been reported missing at Norkem Park SAPS,” said Robert.
“Although she seemed fine, we took her to the doctor for a check-up and all is well.
“Thank you to everyone who assisted and supported us during this time. Thank you to Express for their efforts in publishing her initial story.”
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