Missing 13 year old boy:

Missing boy spotted in Southernwood

EAST LONDON -- The parents of a 13-year-old Quigney boy missing since December last year have received fresh hope of his return following a series of sightings of him in the Southernwood area. Detective Sergeant Donni Smith of the indecent crime unit said Sean de Wet was spotted by friends of his family and security guards at the Malcolmess shopping centre. He was said to be riding around on a bicycle. Smith appealed for anyone with information on the teenager to come forward and tell the police so he could be reunited with his parents. She can be contacted on (043) 722-9718. - DDR

Private investigator to look for missing boy
By Matt Ramsden
Crime Reporter

EAST LONDON -- Private investigator Christian Botha volunteered yesterday to help search for a 13-year-old Quigney boy missing since December last year. Arcadia-based Botha came forward after reading of the plight of Dave and Rina de Wet, whose son Shaun was spotted in Southernwood last week. He visited the couple and offered his services free. "I just wanted to help the De Wets as I am sure they are having a terrible time", Botha said. The teenager ran away for the second time before Christmas and is believed to have spent time in the Germiston region. Botha has had success in the past finding missing youngsters, including two teenage girls from Clarendon High School who ran away to Cape Town earlier this year. He also located the grandsons of a Vincent man in Randburg -- 90 minutes after being hired. The boy's father said: "We are very relieved that Christian is helping us and very grateful as well. "As both of us are unemployed at the moment we couldn't afford to pay for a private investigator. It just wasn't an option."
 

Runaway EL boy, 13, found in Cape Town

EAST LONDON -- Almost a year to the day since he ran away from his Quigney home, a 13-year-old boy has been found by police in Cape Town. West Bank Primary School pupil Sean de Wet disappeared without trace early last December following trouble with a sibling, according to his relieved parents Dave and Rina de Wet. Speaking at their Abbotsford home, the couple said they were hoping to travel to Cape Town soon to collect their son. They were informed of his whereabouts by indecent crime unit investigator Detective Sergeant Donni Smith yesterday morning. It appears the runaway first lived on the streets of Port Elizabeth before moving down the coast to Cape Town where it is believed he was put in a place of safety. After once again running away he was picked up by police last week. The boy's father said he did not think he would run away again if they brought him back to East London because the sibling with whom he fought had moved away. He would probably be brought home next week. -- DDR

Courtesy of Daily Dispatch