MISSING: Two-year-old Omphile Sethole was kidnapped from her home on Saturday, May 2.
Image: SAPS
Authorities in Limpopo are on the hunt for a two-year-old girl who was kidnapped from her home early on Saturday, May 2, prompting a widespread search effort.
Omphile Sethole was taken from her home in the Ga-Mabuela Village.
The provincial police spokesperson, Colonel Malesela Ledwaba, said the child was last seen by her grandmother around 2am.
“It is alleged that at about 2am, the victim’s 52-year-old grandmother woke up to visit a bathroom and took her granddaughter, Omphile Sethole, with her before returning to bed. When the grandmother woke again at around 6am, the child was missing, and a window of the room was open,” Ledwaba said.
Family members and neighbours immediately started conducting a search of the area, but they did not find the toddler. The family went to the Tinmyne police station, where they opened a missing person's case. Police have since launched a massive search operation for the missing toddler and the unknown suspect.
Police have confirmed that at the time of her disappearance, Omphile was wearing a pink jersey and black tights.
The Limpopo Police Commissioner, Lieutenant General Thembi Hadebe, has made an urgent appeal to the public to assist police in locating the child and ensuring her safe return to her family.
"As the police, we view crimes against children in the most serious light. All available resources have been mobilised to assist with the investigation and search for the baby girl," Hadebe said.
Police investigations are continuing.
Anyone with information on the whereabouts of Omphile Sethole or the suspect is urgently requested to contact the Investigating Officer, Sergeant Moshe Mashaba at 082 319 9448, Crime Stop at 08600 10111, or visit the nearest police station or MySAPS App.