"SINCE the day he went missing, every day I go around searching for him."
These were the words of a desperate dad who has been searching for his missing son every day since he disappeared.
Khumbulani Zuke (32) from Umlazi, south of Durban said his son Nhlanzeko Mbangatha (13) went missing after his mum allegedly forced him to go to school.
He told Daily Sun that on Friday, 16 May the day his son went missing, he didn't want to go to school.
"His mother shouted at him and told him that he must go to school. That was when he ran away from home. He just left because he didn't go to school," Khumbulani claimed.
He said his son is in grade 6 at Ntwela Primary School and was doing well, adding that he didn't complain to his family about any problems or challenges he's facing at school.
"At this point I'm clueless about what could be the reason for him to not want to go to school. I wish that he could have at least informed his mother or me if he is being bullied or anything because running away shows that maybe something isn't right," he said.
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Khumbulani said this is bothering them a lot because Nhlanzeko has never done something like this before.
"Since the day he went missing, every day I go around searching for him. On Tuesday, 20 May I spent the day in Chatsworth looking for him around the area. I ask around if anyone has seen him but so far, I haven't been able to find him," he said.
Khumbulani said he's hopeful that they'll find his son alive.
KZN police spokeswoman Constable Thenjiswa Ngcobo confirmed that a missing persons enquiry was opened for investigation in Umlazi cop shop and it was transferred to Umlazi Family Violence, Child Protection and Sexual Offences Unit (FCS) for further investigation.
"The 13-year-old child went missing on 16 May 2023 and is still being sought by police," she said.
Ngcobo said he was last seen in Umlazi F Section, wearing grey school trousers and a white shirt.
"Anyone with information about his whereabouts is urged to contact CrimeStop on 08600 10111," she said.
