His family last saw him on Tuesday when he left home in Driehoek. They are told different stories about his whereabouts, and none of them add up. The mysterious disappearance of Thomas Sithole (17) from Driehoek High School has left the family searching for answers, while police divers continue the search in the Vaal River.
Sithole was reported missing following a private boat cruise outing in the Vaal River on January 10. According to reports, the teenager was last seen during the cruise with a group of friends who claim to have realised he was missing when the boat was returning to its destination.
His family opened a missing persons case. Police have been on a two-day search in the river for the missing teen since the incident was reported. While there are many unanswered questions relating to the incident, family members believe there was foul play in the disappearance of their son. Friends and relatives of the missing boy have been on the riverbanks at the Abrahamsrust Resort, where police divers have been conducting an operation.
Sithole’s cousin, Sibongile Radebe, said they last saw him when he left to visit a friend.
“We last saw him on Tuesday when he left home,” she said.
He is said to have vanished near the Stonehaven resort after going to “fetch a cold drink.”
The incident is said to have happened around 5pm, yet the family was informed around 10 pm.
“We feel there is something fishy. I got a call from my daughter’s friend, who was not part of the private cruise. We were shocked to hear because we never received a call from the group that he was on the cruise with.
“The boat driver said they opened a case at the Vanderbijlpark Police Station. However, when we went to the station, there was no such case opened. We are told different stories, and that’s why we are not satisfied. We feel something is wrong,” he said.
His aunt, Thekiso Radebe, said they have a lot of unanswered questions.
“We want to know where the boat they travelled in. The fact that the family that they visited is not here to show remorse that our child is lost is concerning. There are a lot of stories, but we will leave it to the police to investigate.”
Lieutenant-Colonel Mavela Masong said the South African Police Service and Water Wing, and Search Rescue Unit were continuing to try and locate the boy. The search continues.
Bongi Sikelo 