A girl child still missing since December

Today marks 48 days since Njabulo 'Njunju' Mashinini, a joyful and bubbly 6-year-old pupil at Fountain Five Primary School in Ratanda, Heidelberg, went missing while visiting her aunt in December last year. Her aunt also resides in Ratanda in extension 02. In January, a suspected sangoma known as Mthiyane was detained by the investigating officer, Sergeant Nkambule from Vaal's Family Violence, Child Protection, and Sexual Offences Unit (FCS), in connection with Njunju's disappearance. Mthiyane appeared once in Heidelberg court, where all community members supporting Njunju's family suddenly went into a slumber as he made his appearance, and the case was struck off due to lack of sufficient evidence.

Mthiyane was arrested following a police investigation after several children on different occasions attested that the last time they saw Njunju was when she was with him. Other community members also testified to having last seen her in Mthiyane's yard with him. Witnesses say Njunju was lured to Mthiyane by Buthelezi, a sangoma who is an associate of Mthiyane and a close friend of Njunju's aunt, whom she had visited before she disappeared. One witness, who cannot be named but was with Njunju when allegedly Nkabinde took her to Mthiyane, says she was playing with her. "Njunju left with Nkabinde, saying he was her aunt's friend," said the young girl before being reprimanded by her mother not to engage in other people's business.

"We visited Mthiyane's home after local people alleged that my daughter was last seen there. When we got there, the home was very clean, which seemed odd to those who knew his background, as his home was always in a pigsty state. On the floor were ashes from burnt clothes and other objects," says Tshwarelo Sehloho (36), the heartbroken mother of Njunju. She regrets not having collected the ashes from those burnt items to submit for forensic testing because she strongly feels that they could have been Njunju's belongings burnt to conceal evidence.

"While we were there, Mthiyane was joined by Buthelezi, who was bellicose instead of collaborating and assisting us in finding a missing child. We left Mthiyane's home to search where we suspected we might find her body in case she was no longer alive. But Mthiyane and Nkabinde kept tailing us everywhere we went during our search with concerned members of the community and FCS unity. When they were asked why they were following us, they responded in a manner that prompted the investigating officer to bring them in for questioning, acting even more suspiciously. That's how Mthiyane was eventually charged," says Sehloho.

Sgt. Nkambule told I'M PATRIOT that the case is still under investigation as Njunju is still missing, and it has now been allocated to a new investigating officer who is still pursuing the perpetrators. "So far, we are still waiting for the reports of the experts that were called to search and locate the child, which will give direction on this case," said Sgt. Nkambule.

Even though Missing Children South Africa's statistics indicate that 77% of children are found, whereas 23% are never found, trafficked, or found deceased, Sehloho's hope of finding Njunju alive, deceased, or rescued from trafficking might not materialize. Sehloho blames the Ratanda police station for mishandling their case from the beginning.

"The police in Ratanda never assisted, claiming they referred the matter to Vaal police, who handle missing children's cases. They didn't provide search resources, citing expenses. However, when an old white man went missing in Heidelberg weeks later, all equipment was dispatched for his search. We were only supported by the community in our search efforts. Perhaps with proper equipment and police dogs, we could have found closure," said Sehloho.

Currently, the family seeks any assistance to find closure regarding their little princess. I'M PATRIOT appeals to anyone who can offer help to relieve the Sehloho family to reach out.