Where is Lebo? That is the anguished question haunting the Mniki family, a month after 35-year-old Lebo Sonwabo Moleli Mniki vanished without a trace in Midrand.

Despite desperate searches, police investigations, and community appeals, his loved ones are still clinging to hope while fearing the worst. For his mother, Nontuthuzelo, the silence grows heavier each day, especially as her young grandchildren keep asking about their father.

Mniki, who turned 36 on September 14 while missing, was last seen on the morning of August 28, when he entered the Respublica Princeton Village student accommodation in Midrand to visit his girlfriend. Since then, no one has seen or heard from him.

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Described as responsible, ambitious, and devoted to his children, Mniki’s absence has torn his family apart.

“I have no words,” Nontuthuzelo told the media. “I had hope. I thought maybe he’s not dead, but now I’m beginning to doubt and fear the worst for my son. He loved his work; he lived for his work. He lived for Junior [Mniki’s child]. He would never abandon Junior. He would not abandon us.

“…How do you explain to a two-year-old or a 10-year-old that I don’t know where their father is? I don’t know if he will be coming home. We are starting to fear the worst.”

The family’s torment has worsened due to the grim task of viewing bodies found in Gauteng, hoping to find closure. According to Nontuthuzelo, the police recently discovered a badly burned body, and both her DNA and the body’s DNA were taken to determine if there was a match.

“It might take three weeks or three months,” she said, describing the agonising wait for results.
“There are similarities with the burned body, but as a parent, I don’t want to see them. I may be in denial. I viewed the body, and it was too badly burned, but to a certain degree, I feel that it could be him.”

On September 27, Dr Mgcini Tshwaku, the City of Johannesburg Public Safety MMC, visited the family home in Mofolo South, Soweto, to offer support and assure them he would do everything possible to make a breakthrough in the case. He confirmed that a thorough investigation into the disappearance is ongoing.

The case has also drawn attention to the role of Respublica Princeton Village, where Mniki was last seen. The family has expressed concerns regarding the CCTV footage provided by Respublica to the police, as they have yet to see evidence of Mniki leaving the premises.

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“The footage I saw was of someone still within the perimeters of [Respublica], and now the first video they showed us of someone entering [Respublica] was of a person wearing all black.

The one they are showing us now is wearing black and white, and you ask yourself, ‘What is this?’ When are we going to get closure as a family? Because if they have footage, they must start showing it to us,” added Nontuthuzelo.

For the Mniki family, the wait continues, oscillating between hope and despair. “I need closure,” pleaded Nontuthuzelo.

“If they [Respublica or the police] have footage, they must show me. If it’s him exiting, then I’ll go look for him somewhere else. But right now, I don’t know where my son is.”

Respublica had previously stated that it had fully cooperated with investigators.

The operations managing director for the residence, Bronwyn Boavida, confirmed that the requested CCTV footage was handed over to the police in early September, emphasising that the accommodation was privately owned and not affiliated with Eduvos Campus, despite allegations that it only housed students from that campus.

On September 28, Gauteng police spokesperson Colonel Dimakatso Nevhuhulwi said, “The police are still investigating and following all information received to trace and locate him.”

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