Heartbreaking Search: Limpopo Community Unites to Find Missing 12-Year-Old Boy

Limpopo on Edge as Search Continues for Missing 12-Year-Old Boy

The small community of Tiyani Village in Limpopo has been gripped by fear and heartbreak this week as the search continues for 12-year-old Ndzawulo Mabasa, who disappeared after leaving home to get a haircut last Sunday.

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What was supposed to be a quick trip to the local barber has turned into every family’s worst nightmare. Nearly a week later, no one has seen or heard from him.

According to police spokesperson Sergeant Mienkie Ramakgoakgoa, Ndzawulo left his aunt’s home in the Mdono section of the village on the afternoon of October 26, 2025, saying he was going to a nearby barber. But he never returned.

“All attempts to trace him since then have been unsuccessful,” said Ramakgoakgoa. “We are appealing to anyone who might know where he is to come forward.”

A Vanishing That Shook the Village

The news of Ndzawulo’s disappearance has left residents anxious and heartbroken. Local volunteers have been scouring nearby fields, riverbanks, and dusty roads, hoping for any clue that could bring the young boy home.

Search teams made up of police officers, community leaders, and residents have combed through the surrounding villages, but no solid leads have surfaced yet.

Police described Ndzawulo as light in complexion, last seen wearing black trousers and blue sandals. He is also known to display feminine traits and sometimes dresses in female clothing, a detail police have shared in hopes it may help the public recognise him more easily.

“Every Minute Counts” – Police Plead for Help

As the days pass, the sense of urgency grows. Police say they are treating this as a priority case, stressing that time is critical when a child is missing.

“Every minute counts when a child is missing,” Sergeant Ramakgoakgoa told reporters. “We urge the public to help us reunite Ndzawulo with his family.”

Members of the public can reach the investigating officer, Detective Captain Marivate, directly at 082 468 8673 or provide information anonymously through Crime Stop (08600 10111) or the My SAPS app.

Community and Online Reaction

On local Facebook groups like Limpopo Crime Watch and Hlanganani Community Alert, posts about Ndzawulo’s disappearance have been shared hundreds of times.
Residents are offering prayers, organising search teams, and urging anyone with CCTV footage or dashcam recordings from Sunday afternoon to come forward.

“We’re a small village someone must have seen something,” one user commented.
“This child must come home safely. No one deserves to go through this,” wrote another.

For many in Limpopo, this case has reopened painful memories of other missing children in the province, sparking renewed calls for stronger community safety measures and faster police response times when children go missing.

The Broader Crisis of Missing Children in South Africa

Ndzawulo’s disappearance isn’t an isolated tragedy. According to Missing Children South Africa, a child goes missing in the country every five hours. While many are eventually found, too often the outcomes are devastating.

Advocates say cases like this highlight the importance of early reporting, community vigilance, and social media mobilisation, which can make the difference between life and death.

A Village Holding On to Hope

In Tiyani, candles have been lit, and nightly vigils have begun as neighbours, friends, and family cling to the hope that Ndzawulo will be found safe.

Police continue their search, urging anyone no matter how small their tip to speak up.

“We just want our boy back,” said one relative, standing outside the family home. “We won’t stop searching until we find him.”

As the sun sets each evening over the quiet Limpopo village, one question echoes through the streets:
Where is Ndzawulo Mabasa?

{Source: IOL}

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