The family of 36-year-old Thabisile Thabethe, who went missing more than seven months ago, said they are still living in anguish as questions surrounding her disappearance remain unanswered.

Thabisile was reported missing on May 30 last year after she was last seen at a bar in Blinkpan, approximately 6km from her home on Welverdiend farm. Since then, no confirmed sightings or leads have brought her family closer to discovering what happened to her.

Her husband, Timothy Thabethe, told the Middelburg Observer that the prolonged uncertainty has taken a heavy emotional toll on the family.

“It is as if she just ceased to exist,” he said. “We don’t know what more we can do to find her. Almost seven months later, there are still no answers. We are losing hope because we can’t find any closure or peace.”

Despite several search efforts by the Blinkpan SAPS, including the deployment of a K9 unit, no positive results have been yielded.

DA councillor Stefan Smith previously reported that Thabisile’s handbag was later discovered at Kwa Mfefe farm, just outside Blinkpan.

The family continues to appeal to the public for assistance, urging anyone with information related to Thabisile’s disappearance to come forward.

Anyone with information is asked to contact Timothy Thabethe on 072 665 6261 or visit their nearest police station.

• Around the time of Thabisile’s disappearance, several other people from areas surrounding Middelburg were reported missing and later found deceased in different locations. An occurrence which raised eyebrows among residents as being ‘suspicious’.