A woman from Kayamandi has been found after being missing for three days. This is according to John Alexander, private investigator at Royal Investigations, who led the investigation probing her disappearance.
According to Captain Nathalie Martin, communications officer for the South African Police Service (SAPS) in Stellenbosch, Nelly Ebambi Mansakala (19) has returned home. Mansakala went missing on Saturday, 16 March after a night out, said Martin.
“[Mansakala] returned to her aunt in Eersteriver on 19 March 2024 at 20:10. She is unharmed and safe,” said Martin.
Nelly Ebambi Mansakala (19) from Kayamandi has been found after being missing for three days. PHOTO: Supplied/John Alexander
Mansakala spent the past few days in Cape Town, according to Alexander. “She then reported herself to Sea Point SAPS for assistance,” he said.
Mansakala’s mother, Blandile Mansakala, told SMF News how she felt when she found her daughter.
“I’m relieved and happy knowing that she’s safe and unharmed,” she said. “She [needs] our support.”
Before she was found
Prior to her return, Blandile Mansakala had said that her daughter’s disappearance had left her feeling “broken and empty”.
“No mother would be at peace not knowing where her daughter is,” she said. “I stared at her picture all the time, wishing that I could talk to her and tell her that we’re [going to] be okay.”
“Our inquiry […] uncovered that Nelly was present at [a local bar] on Dorp Street until the early hours of Saturday morning,” said Alexander.
South African Police Service (SAPS) Stellenbosch spokesperson, Captain Nathalie Martin, confirmed that Nelly Ebambi Mansakala is back home safely after being missing for three days. PHOTO: Eugene Marais
Prior to her being found, Mansakala was last seen by her housemate on Saturday morning between 07:00 and 08:30, before leaving the house and boarding a Bellville taxi, according to Alexander.
The Pink Ladies, a non-governmental organisation (NGO) that works to help reunite missing persons with their families, were also involved in the search for Mansakala. This is according to Jacqui Thomas, director and co-founder of the Pink Ladies.
“Our role [was] to raise awareness and to act as a bridge between SAPS and the public in the reporting process,” Thomas said.
Thomas encouraged people who suspect that they have seen missing people to report it, even at the risk of being wrong. “There’s always that element of ‘I don’t want to say anything in case I’m wrong’. I’d rather be wrong a million times than miss out on helping people,” she said.
Nelly Mansakala was reported missing on 16 March, but has since been found and is back home safely, said South African Police Service (SAPS) Stellenbosch spokesperson, Captain Nathalie Martin. PHOTO: Eugene Marais