UPDATE: Motherwell police confirmed, on Tuesday, that 13-year-old Zenathi Bekela “was found today at about 12:00 at a friend’s house in Kwadwesi.”
Motherwell authorities have increased efforts in tracing the movements of 13-year-old Zenathi Bekela, who has been missing since Saturday 16 January.
Motherwell search continues: Where is Zenathi Bekela?
Eastern Cape police spokesperson Colonel Priscilla Naidu noted that three days into the search, and not a single trace has been found.
It’s as if Bekela walked out of her house that day, and completely vanished from the face of the earth. The last time she was seen alive was at approximately 14:00 when she informed her aunt that “she was going to visit a friend close by.”
The weekend came and went without a trace of the 13-year-old. For reasons police have not divulged, Bekela’s family only reported the teen missing on Monday.
With a lot of time lost, Motherwell authorities only registered their first official search for Bekela yesterday. The missing person case is being handled by Motherwell’s Family Violence Child Protection and Sexual Offences Unit and thus far, their efforts have been fruitless.
“Anyone who can assist police in tracing Ms Bekela or may know of her whereabouts, is asked to contact D/Sgt Jerome Jacobs on 071 475 2324 or Crime Stop on 08600 10111 or their nearest police station,” Colonel Naidu pleaded.
What she was wearing last time she was seen
When Bekela was last seen alive, she was wearing a grey top, black jeans and pink sandals. Unfortunately, police didn’t provide any distinct features that would make it easier to identify the teen.
Col. Naidu only confirmed that her hair was braided.
This is a developing story.
