Cape Town - More than a month after the disappearance of a 5-month-old from Strand, his family are hopeful that he will be found.
Ivakele Yeko was, according to his mother, taken on December 5 by an unknown woman in Asanda Village, Strand, while in the care of his nanny.
Ivakele’s mother, Asanda Yeko, 22, said that since his disappearance, she’s been having sleepless nights.
According to the nanny, who was taking care of Ivakele at the time of his disappearance, an unknown woman approached her while she was outside with the 5-month-old and her own daughter Indiphile.
“A Zulu-speaking woman approached me asking if she could go with both kids to buy them hot chips, leaving her handbag behind. I thought she was definitely coming back, but to my surprise I never saw her again.
“Both kids were taken but later that day, after coming back from the police station, Indiphile was dropped off nearby,” said Ela Jezile.
Asanda and her family have exhausted their options in search of the boy. They even consulted traditional healers, hoping some valuable information would be shared, but nothing came of that.
Reflecting on the fact that her son was teething when taken away, Asanda is distressed at the thought of not seeing him again.
“There's no day that goes by without thinking of my child. Looking at the clothes I bought him for Christmas, his clinic card, nappies etc, they just remind him of him,” she said.
According to police spokesperson Joseph Swaartbooi the circumstances surrounding the missing child were still under investigation.