Over the past few days, the Vhembe region has been in an uproar over the disappearance of people, especially children. The past week was particularly emotional when two school-going children went missing without a trace.
One of the children to go missing is a 9-year-old girl, Mpfunzeni Fiona Matodzi from Itsani Matieni in Tshisahulu. The Grade 4 pupil from Dzindi Primary School reportedly went to school as usual with her classmates on Thursday, 11 August. After school, she allegedly left the school premises with the rest but never reached her home.
Talk doing the rounds in the village is that, while she was on her way home, someone in a black Yaris drove up to her, calling her name. She apparently got into the car and they left. Who this person was, and where they went to, remains a mystery. Fiona was last seen wearing her school uniform and black shoes.
In another case, the 14-year-old Mudzuli Tshilongo from Tshitomboni outside Malamulele also disappeared mysteriously. According to reports received, her mother left her at home on Tuesday morning, 9 August, when she (the mother) went to visit a relative in the same village. When she returned home in the afternoon, she discovered that her daughter was nowhere to be found and had not told anyone where she was going.
At Itsani, the disappearance of the young Fiona sparked a violent protest on Friday (12 August). Angered by the child's disappearance, residents went on the rampage, trashing rubble, burning tyres and blocking roads. All secondary schools at Itsani and Shayandima closed for the day. Businesses were also closed as no public transport was available for most of the day with the roads being blocked. Even the main R524 road between Tshilidzini Nursing College and Dzindi River was blocked and police had their hands full in trying to remove the burning rubble from the road. At one point, traffic formed a kilometre-long queue while the road was being cleared.
Itsani SANCO chairperson Mr Michael Gumula, who has been assisting Fiona's family, expressed his concern about the safety of children in the village. "We are living in fear and we have to stand up and protect our children. They are no longer safe here. The worst thing is that it happened in broad daylight. We have combed all the bushes, but in vain. We are appealing to anyone who might have seen what had happened to Fiona to please inform the police, so that she can be found alive," he said.
Limpopo police spokesperson Sergeant Mienkie Ramakgoakgoa confirmed the disappearances and said that the police investigations were still continuing. She called on communities to assist in the search. Anyone with information that can assist the police in locating the two missing children should urgently contact Detective Sergeant Manthakha Khorommbi on 060 770 0002 or 015 963 8034, or call the Crime Stop number on 08600 10111. They can also report to the nearest police station or make use of the MySAPSApp.