Still no sign of the missing Mbali Gumede

‘THE pain of not knowing whether your child is still alive or not is increasingly becoming unbearable for us as the family. We have tried to put up a brave face, but we are gradually losing it.’

That’s how Sibongile Mthembu, the mother of the missing Mbali Gumede described her feelings when talking to the media on Tuesday.

She was visited by the leadership of the City of uMhlathuze led by Mayor Cllr Mduduzi Mhlongo, Deputy Mayor Cllr Silondile Mkhize and Ward 34 councillor Ntuthuko Makhanya.

‘It has been three weeks now since my daughter went missing, and there is still no news of her whereabouts. I can tell you now, I hardly eat and sleep, not knowing where Mbali is. It has been too much for us as a family, but messages of support from our community have revived our faith.

ALSO READ: UPDATE: Still no leads about missing Mbali

‘There has been rumours circulating in the community that a woman’s body, with her eyes badly mutilated, was found in bush near Port Durnford. We went there with police, but we found nothing,’ she said.

Speaking on behalf of the city, Deputy Mayor Cllr Silondile Mkhize said the city was equally concerned about the disappearance of a young woman like Mbali.

‘We are here to give comfort to the family and give assurance that they are not alone. We feel the pain they are going through at the moment.

‘What worries us most is to see a family’s joy turned into tears. Not long ago, Mbali had made her family proud through her academic achievement, as one of Unizulu’s graduates, and now this.

‘This is happening at a time when women are being abducted and killed. We urge our communities to be vigilante at all times. We also wish to appeal to parents to monitor their children when they go to school,’ she said.

Mbali, who turned 23 last week, went missing after she had gone to the University of Zululand on 5 June and did not return home.

Mtunzini SAPS Captain Sibusiso Guma said they were still investigating the case, adding that there was nothing concrete at this stage.

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