The SAPS District Commissioner of Harry Gwala, Major General Ntombivelile Xhelithole hosted the Premier of KwaZulu-Natal, Mr Thami Ntuli at the Kokstad police station on Saturday where she provided feedback and progress on investigation on a case of a missing child.
A seven-year-old girl from Marikana informal settlement in Kokstad went missing on her way back from school 26 February 2026. The community apprehended a man they suspected of abducting the child and they allegedly assaulted him. The suspect allegedly confessed under duress and he reportedly implicated two more people. The angry community burnt three houses, being the house belonging to the man they had apprehended as well as houses belonging to the persons he allegedly implicated. The suspect was arrested and charged; however, the suspect was released by the court due to insufficient evidence.
From the briefing, Major General Xhelithole accompanied the Premier to visit the family of the missing child at Marikana informal settlement. Both the Premier and Major General Xhelithole promised the family of the child that police will continue with the search and they provided feedback on what have been done so far.