Police in Limpopo are urging the public to ignore false reports about missing toddler Omphile Sethole, stressing the importance of verified information in the ongoing search.
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Police in Limpopo have condemned the "irresponsible and criminal" spread of misinformation following viral social media reports claiming that missing two-year-old Omphile Sethole had been found deceased.
Provincial police commissioner Lieutenant General Thembi Hadebe on Friday clarified that the toddler remains missing and the search is still active. Omphile vanished from her home in Ga-Mabuela village in the early hours of Saturday, May 2. The disappearance was discovered by her 52-year-old grandmother at approximately 06:00, who found a window in the room had been forced open.
The South African Police Service (SAPS) has since opened cases of housebreaking and kidnapping. Lieutenant General Hadebe expressed concern over the distress these false reports have caused the family and warned that such actions undermine the integrity of the investigation.
"The sharing of false reports on social media is not only irresponsible but also criminal," Hadebe said. "It creates panic and diverts public attention from the real facts. I urge all members of the public to refrain from posting or sharing unverified information about this sensitive case."
She added that police teams are working "tirelessly" to identify the suspect behind what she described as a "senseless crime targeting our children." At the time of her disappearance, Omphile was wearing a pink jersey and black tights.
Authorities are appealing to the public to ignore the viral hoaxes and instead provide any credible leads that could assist in bringing the child home safely. Anyone with information regarding Omphile Sethole’s whereabouts is urged to contact the Investigating Officer, Sergeant Moshe Mashaba, on 082 319 9448, the Crime Stop hotline on 08600 10111, or via the MySAPSApp.
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