For two days, the Vaal community rallied in a desperate search for a missing Hoërskool Suiderlig pupil, as fear and uncertainty gripped her family, reports Sedibeng Ster.

Relief came yesterday (June 4) when Nontsikelelo Maseko, a Grade 12 learner, was safely reunited with her family after being found in Johannesburg.

She went missing on Monday (June 1) after reportedly leaving home to write an exam but never arriving at school.

When she failed to return home that afternoon, her family raised the alarm and immediately launched a search.

Her cellphone was initially unreachable, though the last known location placed her in Johannesburg.

Sebokeng police spokesperson Sergeant Nthabiseng Mokhachane confirmed her safe return to Sedibeng Ster.

Mokhachane said a breakthrough came yesterday after police established a venue operational centre under the leadership of Sebokeng Detective Branch Commander Colonel Chrizelda Pienaar.

Nontsikelelo later sent a WhatsApp message from her cellphone to her father, saying she was safe and being assisted by a woman at a police station in Johannesburg

Shortly afterwards, the phone was switched off again.

Moments later, her father received a call from an unknown number. It was Nontsikelelo who said she had borrowed a stranger’s cellphone.

She added that she was in Bertrams, Johannesburg, and would be dropped at a nearby shop to charge her phone.

A large-scale search operation was immediately activated, involving members of the Johannesburg K9 Unit, Crime Intelligence, the Tactical Response Team, and Sebokeng detectives.

While officers searched Bertrams, Nontsikelelo’s mother received a call from a woman who said she had found the teenager in Marshall Street and was taking her to Jeppe Police Station after her cellphone was apparently stolen.

Police later found Nontsikelelo safe at Jeppe SAPS’ Victim Friendly Facility. She showed no visible injuries and was still wearing her school uniform.

“Nontsikelelo was interviewed and taken to hospital for a medical examination,” Mokhachane said.

Sebokeng SAPS Station Commander Brigadier Thembekile Kubone praised officers for their swift and coordinated response during the search.

Mandla Maseko, Nontsikelelo’s father, expressed his gratitude.

“I am humbled. I have no words to express what the people of the Vaal have done for me, my family, and my daughter. The Vaal community at large, thank you for your love,” he said.

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