Two-year-old Omphile Sethole.
Image: SAPS
Little Omphile Sethole, who was snatched from her grandmother’s bed on Saturday morning, has still not been found. Her family are holding on to hope for her safe return.
The father of two-year-old has revealed that a suspicious vehicle was seen driving around their yard the day before she vanished.
The incident, which has sent shockwaves across the country, took place in Ga-Mabuela village in Mapela, Mokopane in Limpopo.
Limpopo police spokesperson Colonel Malesela Ledwaba said the child’s 52-year-old grandmother woke at about 2am to use the bathroom and took Omphile with her before returning to bed.
When she woke again at around 6am, the toddler was gone, and a window in the room was open.
Family members and neighbours immediately searched the area but could not find the child.
The matter was reported to Tinmyne police station, and a large-scale search operation has since been launched for both the missing toddler and the unknown suspect.
At the time of her disappearance, Omphile was wearing a pink jersey and black tights.
Speaking to IOL News, her father, Khutso Bradley Mabuela, said he had been in Johannesburg, Gauteng, for work when the incident occurred but rushed home the same day.
“When we heard about this incident, we had to come back immediately. It has been very difficult to process what happened. We are traumatised and still asking ourselves what really happened that day,” he said.
Mabuela described the incident as unprecedented in their community.
“This has never happened before here. It has taken everyone by surprise.”
He said his daughter was a cheerful, sociable child who attended creche.
“Omphile is a bubbly little girl. She loves people and is not afraid of anyone.”
The family believes the abduction may have been planned.
The 26-year old father said they had been told of a suspicious vehicle seen driving through the area and their yard the day before the incident.
“We don’t know what it was looking for, but it was moving slowly near our yard,” he said.
“I believe someone knows what happened… whoever did this must have known which room she was sleeping in. Nothing else was taken - even phones left in plain sight were untouched. They came specifically for my child,” he said, his voice trembling in pain.
He added that the grandmother has been struggling to cope since the incident.
“She is not doing well. She was used to being with Omphile all the time, and now she can hardly sleep.”
Despite the anguish, the family remains hopeful.
“All we want is for her to come back home safe. Even if whoever took her leaves her at the gate and disappears, that would be enough. We just want her alive,” Mabuela said.
Police have opened cases of housebreaking and kidnapping.
Limpopo provincial police commissioner Lieutenant General Thembi Hadebe urged the public to assist in finding Omphile.
“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,” she said.
Limpopo MEC for Transport and Community Safety Violet Mathe also expressed outrage.
“These are barbaric, cowardly acts against the most vulnerable among us. We are sickened,” she said.
She called on community members to remain vigilant.
“If you see a child who looks like Omphile, or if you have heard or know anything, come forward. Silence protects criminals, not children.”
The police urged anyone with information to contact the investigating officer, Sergeant Moshe Mashaba, on 082 319 9448, call Crime Stop on 08600 10111, visit their nearest police station, or use the MySAPS app.