Limpopo families in anguish as three children, including toddler Omphile, remain missing

Families search and hope as investigations continue

Three children remain missing in Limpopo, including two-year-old Omphile Sethole, whose disappearance from Ga-Mabuela village in Mapela, Mokopane has shaken communities across the province. Police and community members say searches and investigations are ongoing as families cling to hope for safe returns.

What happened to Omphile

According to police accounts, Omphile disappeared in the early hours of Saturday, 2 May, after reportedly being taken from her bed at her grandparents’ home. Limpopo police spokesperson Colonel Malesela Ledwaba said the grandmother woke at about 2am to use the bathroom and took Omphile with her before returning to bed. When the grandmother woke again at about 6am, the toddler was missing and a window in the room was open.

Family members and neighbours immediately launched a search but were unable to find the child. The matter was reported to Tinmyne police station and a large-scale search operation was activated involving community structures and specialised units.

At the time of her disappearance, Omphile was reportedly wearing a pink jersey and black tights.

Grandparents arrested and remanded

Following Omphile’s disappearance, her grandmother and grandfather were arrested on allegations of child negligence. Both appeared before the Mahwelereng Magistrate’s Court on Monday, 18 May 2026, and were remanded in custody until 25 May 2026 for a formal bail application, court records show.

Scope of missing-child cases in the province

Ledwaba confirmed police responses were activated in each case and searches involved SAPS members, community volunteers and specialised units. According to IOL News, from January to May this year a total of five missing children cases were reported.

Ledwaba outlined the outcomes in individual cases:

• A child from Tebberius Village was found safe in bushes near Galelia Village after becoming disoriented and was reunited with the mother.
• A 14-year-old reported missing from Chloe Village was later found in Moletjie; a rape case was opened and the matter was referred to the Family Violence, Child Protection and Sexual Offences Unit at Seshego.
• Two other young children one in Sedawa Village and a two-year-old boy, Mokgethwa Makgolane, in Mashite Village remain unaccounted for and searches are ongoing.

Ledwaba said the overall outcome of the five reported cases is that two children were found while three remain missing, and that investigations and search operations are continuing.

Calls for stronger child protection

Local child safety groups and national organisations have urged urgent action. The Limpopo-based Lentswe Laka Foundation said it was “deeply concerned” and called attention to vulnerability factors in rural areas such as poverty, limited resources and lack of access to education.

“We are alarmed by the rising reports of missing children in Limpopo. It highlights systemic gaps in child safety and protection,” said foundation spokesperson Bridget Ramokone.

Childline South Africa CEO Dumisile Cele described the rising number of missing children reported in the news as “a major concern” and encouraged families to report missing children immediately, emphasising there is no waiting period for reporting.

“There is no waiting period, and the police must open such a case immediately,” Cele said, urging families to contact Social Services and use Childline’s 24/7 toll-free helpline at 116 for support.

Police response and community role

Police said they are prioritising missing-children cases with rapid response deployments, investigative support from specialised units and close collaboration with community structures. Authorities and child protection organisations urged the public to report suspicious activity and support search efforts.

Investigations into the missing children remain active and ongoing. Police confirmed Omphile remains missing and said efforts to locate her continue.