Four days have come and gone and Tzaneen authorities have yet to find a single clue in the mysterious disappearance of Charmaine van Stander.
Tzaneen police in search of missing teacher
The full-scale search operation was launched after the 55-year-old teacher never made it back home from Saturday’s shopping trip.
According to Limpopo police spokesperson Warrant Officer Marobo Seabela, Van Stander’s family filed a missing person report with the Tzaneen authorities when three days came and went without the teacher’s return.
“It is alleged that she was last seen on Saturday, 21 November 2020 at about 10:00 in the morning when she left home… She allegedly told her daughter that she was going to town, but since then, she never returned back home,” WO Seabela confirmed in a statement.
What we know about Charmaine Van Stander
Van Stander, as far as we know, was a good-standing Premiapark resident. She taught at Benvorster High School and was highly regarded by her peers.
The fact that she never made it back home has stricken fear in those who knew how much she loved her motherly duties.
According to the daughter’s accounts (the last person to see her alive), Van Stander left home in her red Hyundai i10 hatchback with the registration plates: FJK 447 L. At the time of publishing this article, her vehicle had not been found.
Moreover, it is not known why the teacher’s disappearance was not reported sooner. Tzaneen authorities, however, have not made mention of any signs of foul play in the search for the 55-year-old.
“The police were notified yesterday on 23 November 2020 and conducted search operations at relatives and friends without success,” Seabela added.
Interestingly, it is also not known what Van Stander was wearing the day she left her home.
“The police search operations and investigations are still continuing,” the statement concluded.