Two-year-old Omphile Sethole was kidnapped from her home on Saturday, May 2.
Image: SAPS
Limpopo police have intensified the search for two-year-old Omphile Sethole, who was kidnapped from her home on Saturday, May 2.
Authorities are urging the public to refrain from spreading misinformation on social media, clarifying that the toddler has not yet been located.
The provincial police spokesperson, Colonel Malesela Ledwaba, said the girl was last seen by her 52-year-old 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. At the time of her disappearance, Omphile was wearing a pink jersey and black tights.
The Limpopo Police Commissioner, Lieutenant General Thembi Hadebe, has noted with concern the circulation of false and misleading information on various social media platforms claiming that Omphile Sethole has been found deceased.
“This information is untrue, and the baby girl has not been found. The search for the missing toddler is ongoing,” Hadebe said.
She has strongly condemned the spread of misinformation and cautioned that it causes unnecessary distress to the family and undermines ongoing police efforts.
“The sharing of false reports on social media is not only irresponsible but also criminal. 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. Our team is working tirelessly to unmask this suspect of this senseless crime targeting our children,” Hadebe said.
Police are appealing to the public to continue assisting the search and providing credible information that can lead to the safe return of Omphile to her family.
Anyone with information on the whereabouts of Omphile Sethole is urgently requested to contact the investigating officer, Sergeant Moshe Mashaba at 082 319 9448 or Crime Stop at 08600 10111 or nearest police station or MySAPSApp.
robin.francke@iol.co.za
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