The hearing impaired and mute pupil from Ndaleni School in Richmond who was reported missing has been found and safely returned to his family.

The young boy, who cannot hear (deaf) and cannot speak (dumb), was dropped off by a school bus near the taxi rank in Ladysmith on June 24.

Before being found, 17-year-old Siyabonga Sithole (known as Zwane among his friends) was last seen in the taxi rank in Queen Street.

According to family, the youngster, while unable to speak or hear, is not mentally challenged and should not have had a problem getting home. They are baffled as to why he took the school bus in the first place, as he is normally picked up by a family friend.

No further information is available at this time, other than he has been found and is back with his family. This story will be updated.