Police and family members are asking the public to dismiss rumours swirling on social media that 19-year-old Thando Madida was found dead in Braamfischerville after she had been reported missing over the weekend.
“She is still missing, we are asking people to please keep praying for her,” said her mom. Sthembile Malinga-Madida this morning.
Another relative who asked to stay anonymous said they received false information that her body was found.
“It wasn’t true, she hasn’t been found yet and as her family we are calling on anyone with information to please come forward and help us to locate Thando,” she said.
Gauteng police spokesperson, Lieutenant Colonel Lungelo Dlamini also confirmed that he had checked with the different clusters and that no body of a 19-year-old had been found.
“I have made all the relevant calls and there are no reports of her body being found, such reports (of her body having been found) are untrue,” he said.
Madida went missing on Friday and according to family was last seen at around 5.30pm in Glenvista.
“Someone on social media said they saw her later that night in Rosebank with some ‘dodgy guys’ but when I tried phoning her at about 9pm, her phone was off. She left home wearing a pink jersey and blue jeans,” her mom recalled.
Malinga-Madida added that she believed her daughter was still alive.
Other rumours that surfaced on social media claimed that she and her friends had faked the whole thing to prank her mother or that she’d ran away from home, that she had a blesser while a hashtag #ripthandomadida was also trending.
The relative said that people who were writing such things were “being cruel and unfair”.
“A young girl is missing and people are making up lies on social media? It’s not okay, we’re very upset and we ask people not to do this – when we hear more information, we will say and police will tell us.
“I know there was confusion that she was found dead and some of the relatives said so too, but it was misinformation,” the relative added.
Police in Mondeor are appealing to anyone who may have information about the whereabouts of a missing 19 year-old girl, to come forward. Information may be forwarded to the investigating officer Captain Nokulunga Dube at 071 603 7840 or Crime Stop at 08600 10111 at all hours.
Thando was last seen by her parents at Glenvista on Friday, 19 May 2017. When she left home, she informed her parents that she was going to the Glen Shopping Mall. She never returned home. At this stage it is unknown what happened to her. Police are working around the clock to find her. Any information regarding her whereabouts will be followed.
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