Mother prays for closure after son abducted nine years ago
The mother of a 29-year-old man who was kidnapped shortly after being acquitted of murder nine years ago has made an impassioned plea for help in locating her son.
Seventy-nine year old Marian Mhlope, from Redberry Park, Phoenix, believes that her son is no longer alive and was in fact murdered but is hoping to recover his body and give him a proper burial.
Speaking through Prem Balram of the Reaction Unit South Africa (RUSA) – who she has contacted for assistance, Ms Mhlope said her son Dumisani Cyprian Mhlope was last seen on June 13, 2014, when he was forced into a car by five men.
In 2009, Mhlope was arrested for murder after he was involved in an altercation at a shebeen operated by a policeman. It was alleged that Mhlope had stabbed the victim at the shebeen.
In 2013, he was acquitted of the murder at the Verulam Magistrate’s Court after it was found that he had acted in self-defence. A year later, five men arrived at their family home at about 3am and kidnapped Mhlope at gunpoint. He was never to be seen again.
His mother said in 2015 she was advised that the detective handling her son’s kidnapping case was transferred from the Phoenix SAPS.
“With no follow through on the matter, the case went cold. Never giving up, his mother then approached the SAPS Provincial Headquarters in Durban for assistance but did not get any joy. She has never heard from the SAPS again in the past eight years,” said Mr Balram.
Then in 2017, the Hlope family were attacked at their home during the early hours of the morning. Mrs Hlope and her 20-year-old grand-daughter, despite being shot multiple times, survived the attack.
“The family believes they were attacked by the same people responsible for kidnapping her son. She has kept hope alive all this time that her son will return home but now as she faces her twilight years, she realises he may never return and would like to lay him to rest in peace,” said Mr Balram.
Described as tall, with light-skin, black eyes and a scar on his abdomen, Mr Mhlope, would be 37 years old now and wears a size 8 shoe.
At the time of his disappearance he was employed at UEC Technologies in Mt Edgecombe- KZN.
Anyone with information is urged to contact Reaction Unit South Africa (RUSA) on 086 123 4333.
Police said they would be looking into the matter.
