A heartbroken old lady is pleading with the public to help her trace her missing son. Mukondeleli Nange (67) of Haluvhimbi, north of Thohoyanbdou, has never known peaceful sleep since her beloved, mentally unstable last-born son, Obert Nange (29), disappeared on 21 November last year.

Obert, who studied medicine for two years in Medunsa before dropping out due to psychiatric problems, was wearing brown trousers and a black lumber jacket on the day of his disappearance.

Mukondeleli said she has gone to all the places she could think of in search for her son, with no success.

“I visited all the relatives, went to hospitals and mortuaries, but nothing helped. I once took him to Polokwane for prayers and I thought he might have gone there alone, but there was no clue of him there. I now appeal to members of the community to help me locate my son because I want him to come back home. I could not even enjoy the festive seasons because my heart is always in pain for my beloved son.”

The weeping mother said a relative told her that he saw Obert at Gondonabada, near Levubu, on the day he disappeared. “The relative said he saw him holding a small bag while walking alone towards Gondonabada. That was the last time we heard anything about him”.

Mukondeleli said Obert stared behaving strangely on the night before his disappearance. “He woke up in the night and started screaming on top of his voice, saying Tsamaya, Tsamaya. I thought he would go back to sleep. After some time, I persuaded him to sleep, but when I woke up the next morning, he was nowhere to be found…”

Mukondeleli says she strongly believes that her son is still alive and it is his mental condition that troubles him.

“I went to the local headman and reported the matter. The headman gave me a letter that I had to take along to the police station to open a case. I request anyone who might have seen my son to come forward because my pain never ceases. This thing has also affected my health and I need it to be over before I die of a heart attack.…”

Insp Nkanukeni Raedani of the Thohoyandou SAPS confirmed that a missing person’s file was opened and he said police investigations are continuing. He urged community members who might have information about Obert’s whereabouts to call their nearest police station.