Well-known Thohoyandou businessman Abdullah Patel wants community members to help him trace his cousin, Dukanwala Abdul Gafoor (40), who went missing on January 9, last year.

Gafoor is manager of Thohoyandou Spares City. He arrived here in South Africa from India five years ago.

According to Patel, Gafoor left his home in Thohoyandou Block F, saying he was heading for Spares City, his workplace, on the day he disappeared. "I received information that he had told his wife that he was going to work on the day in question. We became suspicious when we realized that he took a long time coming to work. We later got the information that he had not arrived for work. Hours passed without our seeing him and that was when we became suspicious."

Patel says his cousin looked healthy and showed no signs of depression or family problems. "He was the darling of our customers and always wore a smile on his face. He did not seem to have problems and he was always a happy man. He was a fun-loving person and did not have any squabbles with his subordinates here at work. It is heart-breaking to lose a hard worker like Gafoor in such a way. We will not rest until we know what exactly happened to him."

Asked if there is a possibility that his cousin might have sneaked out of the country to India quietly, Patel disagreed: "Although he has relatives in India, Gafoor is now a permanent citizen of South Africa and he would inform us if he wanted to visit India. As a responsible person, he can’t just vanish like that without telling his wife and everyone around him."

Those who might know something about Gafoor’s whereabouts can call Patel at 082 853 6432. Meanwhile, Insp Nkanukeni Raedani of the Thohoyandou police confirmed that a missing person’s file was registered with the police. "We are investigating the matter and we urge those with information to contact the nearest police station or the family."