The Mpumalanga SAPS has confirmed that three-year-old Nkosingiphile Ntiwane, who went missing from Mshadza Trust in Masoyi on Sunday, July 20, has been found alive in a ditch just a few metres from his home.

The child was discovered around 15:00 today, July 25, by members of the public who had joined the search efforts.
Nkosingiphile is currently receiving medical treatment as he was found in a weakened state and possibly dehydrated. It is not yet clear how he ended up in the ditch.

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Acting provincial police commissioner, Major General Dr Zeph Mkhwanazi, expressed his gratitude and said he was relieved the boy had been found alive. He also used the opportunity to urge the public not to resort to acts of vigilantism. This follows protests along the R38 earlier this week, during which some community members demanded the arrest of the child’s mother.

“We are thankful to the community members who assisted in the search for the child. We also appreciate the officers who moved Nkosingiphile’s family to a place of safety after receiving threats against them. We wish the young boy a speedy recovery, ” said Mkhwanazi.