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Tensions Erupt in Mpumalanga as Search for Missing Boy Nkosingiphile Enters Critical Phase
“Arrest the mother!”
That was the chilling demand from angry residents of Mshadza Trust, Masoyi, as frustration boiled over this week in the ongoing disappearance of three-year-old Nkosingiphile Ntiwane.
The little boy, who lives with a hearing impairment, was last seen on Sunday while playing at home. Since then, the silence has only grown louder, fuelling suspicion and igniting community outrage.
By Wednesday night, emotions exploded into violent protest. Residents barricaded the R38 Road and hurled stones at the Masoyi police station. One police van was damaged. But their anger didn’t stop there—there were threats to set fire to the Ntiwane family home. Police swiftly relocated the family for their safety.
“People are scared. They want answers. But this level of violence distracts from the most urgent task: finding Nkosingiphile,” said Mpumalanga police spokesperson Brigadier Selvy Mohlala.
The provincial police brought in Public Order Policing (POP) units to de-escalate the chaos. The community’s main demand? Arrest the child’s mother. Authorities, however, say they have no grounds to do so.
“Every minute counts”
Despite the tension, police say they are throwing all available resources into the search effort. From search and rescue teams to the K9 unit, the Family Violence, Child Protection and Sexual Offences (FCS) unit is leading the investigation.
The acting provincial commissioner, Major General Zeph Mkhwanazi, made an urgent appeal to the public: “If you know something, say something. Let’s not waste time on blame. Our only focus should be finding Nkosingiphile.”
He urged residents to stop pointing fingers and support police efforts rather than derail them with violence.
For now, the search continues, painfully and relentlessly as the days tick by and a small child remains missing.
{Source: IOL}
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