The Mpumalanga Police in Piet Retief are urgently seeking public assistance in locating six-year-old Rethabile Okuhle Vilakazi, who has been missing since January 28, 2025. According to police spokesperson Lieutenant Colonel Jabu Ndubane, Vilakazi’s mother had gone to the bus stop to collect her daughter after school, but she was unable to find her. The child had been using scholar transport that day.
Investigators have gathered that the bus arrived earlier than usual, and Vilakazi got off with other students at the bus stop. It is believed that she then walked toward her home, but never arrived. Since that day, the young girl has not been seen, and authorities are conducting an ongoing search in the area to locate her.
The police are calling on the public to come forward with any information that may assist in finding Rethabile. Warrant Officer Martin Ntshangase is the designated contact for tips, and the community can reach him at 072 638 1858 or 082 922 9748. Alternatively, individuals can contact Crime Stop at 08600 10111 or submit tips through the MYSAPS App. The police assured that all information will be treated as confidential, and callers may choose to remain anonymous.
In another tragic incident, a three-year-old boy from Orange Farm in Johannesburg, Abraham Lebogang Tsheole, was allegedly killed by his 18-year-old brother, who is suspected of poisoning him with rat poison. Abraham’s death occurred while the family was inside the house, unaware that the older sibling was secretly planning to harm the young child.
The 18-year-old suspect has since been charged with murder and appeared in the Vereeniging Magistrate’s Court on Monday. Abraham was buried on Thursday, as the community grapples with the heartbreaking loss of such a young life.
The two cases highlight the deep distress facing families and communities in South Africa, with one child still missing and the other having tragically lost his life at the hands of a close relative. Police are urging anyone who may have relevant information to step forward, offering hope that Rethabile can be safely brought home and that justice will be served for Abraham.
