A TORN shirt, dentures and a cave containing bones.
This is what members of the community came across during their search for the missing German teacher, 45-year-old Sylvia Wittal, in the vicinity of Schoenmakerskop on Saturday.
Louise van Rensburg, founder of the neighbourhood watch, Alert Watch, Sherwood and Surroundings and one of the organisers of the search, said that the torn shirt was handed to police, while Wittal’s family already said that she doesn’t have dentures.
Wittal, a German citizen, who has been living in South Africa for the past 15 years and works as an online German teacher, has been missing since December 30 last year. She was last seen leaving her house in Richmond Hill.
Her vehicle, a Kia Picanto, was found abandoned in Schoenmakerskop on January 2.
At the time of her disappearance, her two teenage children were in the care of their father, who lives elsewhere in the city.
Just more than 100 people joined the search on Saturday, despite the windy weather conditions.
According to Van Rensburg, the search ended without any serious incidents.
“The police took the piece of clothing that was found. They will also investigate the cave where the bones were found, probably those of an animal, but they will make sure,” she said.
“Apart from that, we unfortunately didn’t find any other clues.
“We are still grateful to everyone who took the time to participate in the search,” Van Rensburg said.
A smaller group of people started another search on Sunday at Sardinia Bay, adjacent to Schoenmakerskop in the direction of Jeffrey’s Bay, but found no clues to her disappearance.
Police spokesperson, Captain André Beetge, said that the piece of clothing found would be sent for forensic investigation.
