NGODWANA- The White river diving unit will be concluding the operation today with another search in the mountainous area. The search will then progress to the main road.

On August 30 Albert Gryvenstein and Danie Theron of Bossies Community Justice, Ruan Lombard and Gerhard de Beer of J&M Security and Sgt Leon Harrington of the Middelburg K9 unit joined the diving unit in the search for Radebe.

According to Cap Potgieter, these organisations would be unable to assist with the final day of the search: “We are concluding the operation because the area has been thoroughly searched. Unfortunately, we have not received any new information which would make a search in another area viable.”

Update: Still no sign of missing 86-year-old farmer

NGODWANA – The mysterious disappearance of an 86-year-old man deepened on Wednesday, as rescue workers failed to find any trace of Johannes Radebe.

Radebe, a sustenance farmer, went up into the mountainous area of Ngodwana near Silverstream Trout and Game on horseback on Friday. It is believed that he was looking to gather herbs and plants for traditional medicine.

According to Capt Pottie Potgieter, Radebe’s horse was found tethered to a tree high up in the mountains. His shoes, backpack and machete were then found approximately 300 metres from the horse’s location two days later.

As the search resumed on Wednesday, members of the White River Police Diving Unit were joined by Albert Gryvenstein and Danie Theron of Bossies Community Justice, Ruan Lombard and Gerhart de Beer of J&M Security, Sgt Leon Harrington of the Middelburg K9 unit as well as members of the Hazyview community. Neels Luus of Farm Life also assisted with a rescue dog.

It was slow going as the search party ascended the steep left-hand side of the mountainous area in a line formation. By 14:00 Radebe had still not been found. The search continued on Thursday with members of the rescue party ascending the right-hand side of the mountain.

At the time of this update, he had still not been found.

Day 6 of search for 86-year old man from Ngodwana

NGODWANA – Johannes Radebe was reported missing on Friday after the horse he was riding that day appeared without him.

Yesterday Capt Pottie Potgieter reported that they have found his shoes, backpack and machete. Six members of police, Johannes’ son and several volunteers gathered this morning in an effort to locate the old man.

Neels Luus is also assisting with a rescue dog. Lowvelder journalist, Keegan Frances, is part of the search party and will provide new information as it becomes available.

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