The International Criminal Police Organization, also known as Interpol, has been brought in to assist local police in the missing persons case of two Vrygrond sisters.
Vanessa, 17, and Kimberley Mubaiwa, 21, have been missing for more than a month and there has been no word on their whereabouts despite police following up on sightings that were reported.
Their parents Lorraine and Douglas Mubaiwa, Zimbabwean nationals, have pleaded for anyone with information that will help in their daughters’ safe return to come forward.
Muizenberg police spokesperson, Captain Stephen Knapp, said they are still investigating and searching for the girls since they were reported missing on Friday May 27.
The sisters were last seen when they left their residence in Vrygrond to go to the Muizenberg library to do a project. The two often went to the facility to do school work.
“We contacted Interpol for the chance that they might have returned back to Zimbabwe, so we’re looking down all avenues and following up on all leads,” said Captain Knapp.
He added that there has been a lot of information coming through to them but many of the leads don’t pan out but said they follow up on every lead that’s reported to them.
Asked if police suspect any foul play in the preliminary investigations, he said nothing points to that at the moment: “Until such time that we get something that points to that we are treating it as two missing girls and we’re searching for them. As soon as we get any hint of foul play, we’ll open up a criminal docket but for now it’s a missing person’s file.”
The Mubaiwa couple said they haven’t been able to sleep since their daughters’ disappearance.
“My wife is sick, stressed and we are both in a deep depression because we don’t know if our daughters are safe or if they’ve been taken by people,” said Mr Mubaiwa.
Asked if his daughters might have run away, Mr Mubaiwa insisted that his daughters would not run away: “My eldest one finished matric and my other daughter is currently in matric. She was supposed to write exams and I know she wouldn’t miss it on purpose. They are both very smart and had plans. They didn’t run away.”
A worried Ms Mubaiwa encouraged anyone with information to come forward. “My children didn’t run away. The two of them were excited to have Vanessa pass matric – they worked hard together for her to pass this year and now they are missing. We just want our children home.”
Mr Mubaiwa pleaded for the girls’ safe return: “If someone has my daughters I am begging for them to please just drop them somewhere and let us know. I will drop the case, I just want my children home.”
Mymoena Scholtz, from Vrygrond organisation Where Rainbows Meet, said the girls often came to the organisation and was shocked that no information had yielded any results.
“I feel the pain of these parents who haven’t seen their daughters in a month. Anyone who can assist, please let us know – this is torture for the family.”
At the time of their disappearance Vanessa was wearing brown pants and a brown stripe jacket and Kimberley was wearing black jeans, a blue denim jacket and white running shoes.
Anyone with any information regarding the whereabouts of the missing sisters or who can assist with the investigation, is asked to contact Captain Steven Lewis at Muizenberg Detective Branch on 082 469 2694 or Crime Stop on 08600 10111.