With 13 cases of missing persons reported since the beginning of the year in the Okavango sub district, the police have raised concerns at the trend.
Shakawe Police Station Commander Superintendent Goitsemodimo Molapisi, said they have recorded 13 cases of missing persons in the area, with 12 recorded in Gumare, while one was reported in Shakawe.
According to Molapisi, most of the people reported missing are usually children and mentally ill persons. He explained that most children go out to play but do not return home by the end of the day while mentally ill persons lose their way home.
Molapisi has however indicated that of the 13 missing persons reported, 11 have so far been found, except for two who are still missing.
“Some end up being at their friends’ or relatives’ houses but return home after some days,” he revealed in an interview.
Of recent, an 18-year boy of Bosarwa ward in Gumare was reported missing by his 58-year-old father. Molapisi confirmed the incident, adding that the case was reported on the 14th of November. He said that the father told the police that the teenager was last seen on the 6th of November at around 8am when he was leaving home to go to where he usually spends the day trying to make ends meets.
“The boy’s family did not report the case of the missing person as they thought that he would return home but he never did,” Molapisi said.
Molapisi has since pleaded with the public to assist with information that could lead to the finding of the said missing person. In their efforts to locate the missing persons Molapisi noted that they plead with Dikgosi in the respective villages to appeal to the community to help assist in search parties.
