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Search continues for missing Hoërskool Driehoek teen after Vaal River boat outing
A quiet river, and a family waiting for answers
What was meant to be an ordinary social outing has turned into a nightmare for a Sedibeng family and an entire school community. Seventeen-year-old Thomas Sithole, a learner at Hoërskool Driehoek, has been missing since a private boat cruise on the Vaal River earlier this week.
Thomas was reported missing after a trip on the river on Thursday, 9 January. He had left home to visit a friend and never returned. It was only later that his family learnt he had been on a private boat outing with a group of peers.
According to information shared with the family, Thomas was last seen during the cruise. Friends on board reportedly only realised he was missing when the boat was already on its way back to its destination.
Two days of searching, and more questions than answers
Police divers have been searching the river for two days, focusing on the area around Abrahamsrust Resort. Family members, friends, and concerned locals have spent long hours waiting on the riverbanks, watching the operation unfold with growing anxiety.
For Thomas’s family, the pain is compounded by confusion. His father, Steven Sithole, says the timeline and explanations given to them do not make sense.
He explained that the family was only informed of the incident on Saturday morning, despite the disappearance having happened the day before. Even more troubling, the family was told a case had been opened at the Vanderbijlpark Police Station, only to discover that no such report existed when they went to the station themselves.
“We are being told different stories,” Steven said. “That is why we feel something is wrong.”
Family fears foul play
As the search continues, relatives are openly questioning what really happened on the river. Thomas’s aunt, Thekiso Radebe, says the lack of clarity and the absence of people connected to the outing have deepened the family’s distress.
“There are many unanswered questions,” she said. “We want to know where the boat came from and what happened on that day. The fact that the family they visited is not here to show concern is worrying.”
Thomas’s older sister, Victoria Sithole, says the last time they saw him was when he left home earlier in the week, expecting to return as usual. Since then, the family’s life has been placed on pause.
A community holding its breath
News of the disappearance has spread quickly through local WhatsApp groups and social media, with messages of support and concern pouring in from fellow learners, parents, and residents across Sedibeng. Many have shared the family’s plea for transparency and accountability as the investigation unfolds.
The Vaal River is a popular gathering spot during the summer holidays, particularly for young people. Incidents like this have once again raised uncomfortable conversations locally about supervision, safety on private boats, and how quickly situations can turn tragic.
Waiting for official word
At the time of publication, police had not responded to media enquiries regarding the circumstances of Thomas’s disappearance or the status of the investigation. For now, the family says they are placing their trust in the search teams while hoping for clear answers.
This remains a developing story, and the Sithole family continues to appeal to anyone with information to come forward.
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Source: The Citizen
Featured Image: Central News South Africa
