Search efforts for Shireen Essop, a 32-year-old mother of two, have intensified after her vehicle was tracked down to a location in Khayelitsha, days after she was last seen alive.
Where is Shireen Essop? – Here are the latest updates
UPDATE: Essop was successfully reunited with her family on 11 June 2022 more than two weeks after she was kidnapped on her way back from work on Weltevreden Road in Browns Farm, Philippi.
On Wednesday, 22 June 2022, police spokesperson Brigadier Novela Potelwa confirmed, in a statement, that a 28-year-old suspect has been arrested and charged with “possession of stolen property believed to be that of [the] kidnapping victim.”
“As investigations into the case continue the arrest of more suspects cannot be ruled out. Further details about the case are expected to emerge in court during the appearance of the arrested suspect,” the statement read.
As reported by IOL News, Essop was driving her white Toyota along Weltevreden Road, around the areas of Mitchells Plain and Browns Farm, at approximately 14:00 before she disappeared.
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According to her relatives, Essop was on her way home from work, and something may have happened to her while she was on the phone with her mother.
“They’re taking me … they’re taking me,” were her last words heard by her mother over the phone, according to the family.
Shortly after that, about 40 minutes later, police recovered her vehicle at an undisclosed location in Khayelitsha, with no signs of the mother and her belongings.
The search for Essop has entered its second day, and fears are growing as the 32-year-old, who is a mother to a two-year-old boy, has not surfaced, bizarre behaviour her family would describe as uncharacteristic.
Information on Essop’s background is unclear. However, at the time of her disappearance, she resided in Manenberg. But, according to reports, she’s originally from Rondebosch.
At the time of her disappearance, Essop was wearing a mustard long-sleeve top and black pants. The 32-year-old is said to be 1.65m in height and is of medium build.
Persons with information on Essop’s whereabouts are encouraged to reach out to the contacts listed in this missing person poster:
#BOLO@Abramjee @MARIUSBROODRYK pic.twitter.com/p7EaV0Emkn
— Read my Pinned Tweet, Please (@openureyes_7777) May 23, 2022
Despite growing fears, it’s presumed Essop may still be alive, and as things stand, her family has, as yet, not received contact from people with knowledge of her whereabouts.
This is a developing story.
