A 16-year-old girl from Mmatswale in Musina, who had gone missing on 14 June, was found in Ha-Dumasi near Thohoyandou. Her story was published in the Limpopo Mirror a fortnight ago (29 June).

Gladys Phophi Negondeni was traced and found in Ha-Dumasi on 7 July by the Musina SAPS, after a case of abduction was opened with the Tshilwavhusiku police and forwarded to the SAPS at Musina.

In Gladys's words, she was abducted at her father's place in Muraleni village in the Sinthumule area by her boyfriend. Their first destination was the boyfriend's uncle in Muledane. After the boyfriend's mother had learnt that there was one member from her own family who was leaking information about Gladys's whereabouts to the young girl's family, she then directed them to move to a relative in Dzimauli.

According to the information made available to Limpopo Mirror, the accused's mother knew about the movements of the two young people and was guiding them to places where they could hide. “She sent us money via Shoprite's money market and told us to run to Ha-Dumasi,” said Gladys from her home in Musina. “All I need is to separate from (the boyfriend) because I can see he's not good for me. I didn't agree to run away with him. He forced me to do so.”

Young Gladys was taken to her father's place by her mother in Muraleni village in the Sinthumule area on 14 June, for safety reasons. This was after Gladys's boyfriend had allegedly started abusing her physically and had made her quit school around February this year. Gladys was welcomed in Muraleni and stayed with the people in the household, until she disappeared one morning (19 June) while her father, Mr Andries Gumani, was away.

The girl's mother, Vho-Nyambeni Razwimisani, expressed her joy when her daughter was brought home by the police. “I am quite relieved and hope the law will take its course in this case,” she said. “We want our child to go back to school and also wish to see her living in a safe environment.”

Community members had since described the boyfriend as somebody known for forcing girls to remain with him. If they refuse, he beats them and forces them to quit school by abducting them during school hours.

The spokesperson for the Musina police, Lt Teacher Mudau, confirmed that a case of abduction was opened after a man had run away with a young girl. “A case of abduction was reported to us on 5 July and we made a breakthrough when we traced and arrested the suspect,” said Lt Mudau. “We're also happy that we found the young girl in good health.”