An Amaoti father has issued a heartfelt plea for assistance exactly one month after his 10-year-old daughter, Nosihle Mbewana, vanished without a trace. Nosihle, a Grade 5 learner at Brookdale Primary School, failed to return home after school on 10 February, leaving her family in a state of growing desperation.
Her father, Sibonelo Zuma, is appealing to the public to help bring his daughter home safely. At the time of her disappearance, Nosihle had been living with a relative on her mother’s side in a pre-arranged living agreement. Zuma, who cares for Nosihle’s twin brother and an older sibling at his own home, was alerted to her disappearance when the aunt called to ask if the child was with him.
Zuma recounted the harrowing hours following the initial realization that Nosihle was missing. After confirming she was not with her mother, he searched the area until late into the night. The following morning, he opened a formal missing persons case and visited Brookdale Primary School, where educators confirmed that Nosihle had attended all her classes on the day she disappeared.
In the weeks since, Zuma has exhausted every possible avenue, including door-to-door enquiries and coordinated weekend searches with community members. Zuma said: “I’m so heartbroken. I can’t even think straight anymore. As a father, not knowing where your child is or what might have happened to them is very disturbing. I would never wish this pain on any parent.”
Nosihle is described as a quiet, gentle, and respectful child who shares a deep bond with her twin brother, who has been profoundly affected by her absence. Private security company Reaction Unit South Africa (Rusa) has amplified the search by circulating a digital alert. According to the Rusa description, Nosihle has brown eyes, a light complexion, a slim build, and is of average height.
She was last seen wearing her Brookdale Primary School uniform. Despite a month of intensive searching, there have been no confirmed sightings or leads regarding her current whereabouts. Zuma concluded his plea with a simple request: “I just want my daughter back home safely. If anyone knows anything or has seen her, please come forward and help us find her.”
SAPS Police spokesperson Captain Carmen Rhynes, confirmed the case. She said a case involving a 10-year old missing girl was opened at Inanda SAPS and is currently being investigated by Inanda FCS. Anyone with information is encouraged to contact the family on 072 731 4202 or leave an anonymous tip with Crime Stop on 08600 10111.
