Police in Mpumalanga have appealed to members of the public for assistance in tracing a 14-year-old girl who went missing in Kanyamazane last week.
Lieutenant Colonel Jabu Ndubane, provincial police spokesperson, said the teenager, Promise Thembelihle Mthombothi, was last seen by her mother on Friday, 16 January 2026, at their home in Thekwane South near Kanyamazane.
According to Ndubane, Mthombothi reportedly left home following an altercation with her mother and did not inform any family members of her whereabouts.
The missing girl was wearing a black dress and black sandals at the time of her disappearance.
Her family has since conducted searches at places she is known to frequent and attempted to contact her by cellphone, but these efforts have been unsuccessful as her phone is not reachable.
The South African Police Service (SAPS) in Kanyamazane has urged anyone who may have information that could help locate Mthombothi or reunite her with her family to come forward.
Members of the public can contact Sergeant Jabulane Mthethwa on 071 308 9740, Kanyamazane SAPS on 013 794 6101, or share information via the MySAPSApp. Police said callers may remain anonymous and all information will be treated with strict confidentiality.
Earlier this month, The Post published a story where attorney Serisha Inderjeeth shared insights on the legal rights of parents and missing children.
Q. What rights does the parent have: can they open a case if their minor child leaves home willingly with a person who is older than he or she?
A. A parent can open a criminal charge against an adult who has taken a minor child without the consent or a legal guardian even if the minor gives consent and willingly leaves with the adult. The courts relying on the law will focus on the adults’ actions, intention and the fact that parental consent was lacking.
This however has limited exceptions such as the child being taken away by the adult in terms of it being under a court order, which is regarded as authority, the adult who had taken the child has some sort of legal right over the child, or of the adult is of the strong belief that the child is in immediate danger and taking the child away will protect the child from such danger.
Q. If the parents were aware of a “relationship” between their minor child and an adult, what should they do, and what is their legal recourse?
A. A parent has a legal obligation to ensure a child’s safety. Often emanating from a minor and adult relationship is coercion, exploitation and grooming. Immediate steps are to be taken to cease the communication between the adult and minor child. It is advisable to inform those close to the minor child such as close family members, neighbours and teachers at the minors’ school of the involvement of the adult in the minor’s life for them to assist in ensuring that any interaction is reported and that the relationship is not supported in any manner.
The assistance of the law can be obtained such as securing a restraining and/or protection order against the adult. The parents can make such an application in their capacity as the legal guardian of the minor child. The adult can be charged for rape in the event of sexual acts with the minor child.
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