GQEBERHA – Police have launched an urgent search for a Westering teenager who disappeared from his family home in the early hours of Monday 8 September.
Ona Moloto, 18, was last seen by his mother on Sunday evening, 7 September, when she said goodnight as he studied in his bedroom at their Warbler Street residence in Westering. When she checked on him the following morning, the teenager had vanished.
Moloto is a Grade 12 learner at Alexander Road High School, where he has distinguished himself academically, achieving first place in his grade in June. His disappearance is particularly puzzling as he was due to sit a mathematics examination on Monday.
His mother, Thembela Mahonga, expressed her shock at the disappearance, describing it as completely out of character for her son.
“This has never happened before, we are shocked and the school is also shocked because he is a good child and a good learner,” she shared with the PE Express. “He is a top academic and came first in his grade in June. Sometimes our children go through something that we don’t know.”
Mahonga described her son as a dedicated student who is “not a troublesome child” and whose primary focus is “his books and his future.”
“There were no fights, he was studying the whole weekend and everything was fine,” his mother continued. “I cooked, got up early, he was fine. I’m thinking maybe he is overwhelmed, I don’t know.”
Kabega Park police detectives have launched a comprehensive investigation and are making an urgent appeal to the public for assistance.
“We are continuing our search efforts and appeal to anyone who may know of his whereabouts to contact us immediately,” said police spokesperson Captain Janse Van Rensburg.
Meanwhile, CCTV footage revealed Moloto was in the vicinity of Rowallan Park at approximately 05:20 on Monday, 8 September. In the footage, the teenager was wearing a navy-blue hoodie, black tracksuit trousers, white t-shirt, and army green Nike shoes, paired with white Adidas long socks. He was also carrying a distinctive blue rucksack.
This footage is the last confirmed sighting of the teenager, who has not returned home since his disappearance.
Public Appeal for Information
Authorities are urging anyone with information, regardless of how insignificant it may seem, to come forward immediately.
Contact details:
• SAPS Kabega Park: 082 442 1282
• Crime Stop: 08600 10111
• Any nearby police station
