Home » Missing Gauteng Teen Found Alive, SAPS to Investigate Members’ Conduct

Missing Gauteng Teen Found Alive, SAPS to Investigate Members’ Conduct

The search for a 13-year-old girl, Kitso Mothibe, who had been reported missing in South Africa, has been found alive at Park Station at the weekend, according to the SA Police Service (SAPS). “A search for a 13-year-old girl, reported missing at the Johannesburg Central police station, has been discontinued after she was found by her […]

By SAPeople Contributor
22-05-17 11:20
in Fab South African Stuff

The search for a 13-year-old girl, Kitso Mothibe, who had been reported missing in South Africa, has been found alive at Park Station at the weekend, according to the SA Police Service (SAPS).

“A search for a 13-year-old girl, reported missing at the Johannesburg Central police station, has been discontinued after she was found by her cousin at Park Station yesterday afternoon [Saturday],” SAPS said on Sunday.

Kitso had been missing for three weeks.

The teenager’s stepfather, Kabelo Matsatsi, had phoned in to local radio station 702 saying police had ignored calls to find her. Matsatsi allegedly claimed that his pleas had been ignored at the Johannesburg Central police station when he reported her missing.

On Sunday, police said all available resources had been used to search for Kitso.

SAPS says the allegations that police were reluctant to assist has been taken up in a continuing internal investigation into the conduct of its members when dealing with the public.

SAPS provincial Commissioner of Gauteng, Lieutenant General Deliwe De Lange, has expressed concern about the attitude of some police officers and said: “Police members must render a responsible and effective service of a high quality which is accessible to every person.”

Meanwhile, police and other law enforcement agencies in co-operation with the City of Johannesburg will continue with operations aimed at rooting out criminal elements in the inner city, especially in abandoned buildings claimed to be hiding places for criminals.

It has been alleged that Kitso had been kidnapped, due to be trafficked, and was being held in an abandoned building by pimps and drug lords in Johannesburg.

Her stepfather reportedly said: “Apparently, she was with a group of three other girls, but we don’t know who those girls are. When I spoke to her she said when she found out she was about to be sold to Nigerians or Tanzanians, she saw the newspaper article that she was missing and wanted to go home.”

In a month in which there have been horrific rapes and murders of young women in South Africa, it comes as good news that Kitso Mothibe has been found alive… although what she has endured is uncertain.

SAPS said: “At this stage it is unknown as to what was her state of health when she was found but it is believed that social workers will deal with the matter.”

Source: SAnews.gov.za