Cape Town - Residents from Upington in the Northern Cape have been frantically searching for a missing child since Tuesday.
Five-year-old Lee-Verno Marthin van Wyk from Louisvale mysteriously disappeared while playing with friends.
Speaking to IOL, his uncle, Maxwell van Wyk said the Grade R pupil came home from school after 12.30pm and just dropped his school bag and left to go play.
“He and his cousin and another friend went to play.
“They went to play at the train tracks where we were told more friends met up with them to play.
“Later, the little cousin came home and she said Lee-Verno was still playing with his friends,” Van Wyk said.
He said concern grew as the young boy did not come home and when he arrived home from work after 4pm, Lee-Verno’s mother, Lie-en van Wyk was already searching for her son.
Lee-Verno is one of five children.
“We searched all over and between friends there had been conflicting stories about who was playing with him at the time.
“But, one thing all the friends do say is they do not know what happened to him,” Van Wyk said.
He told IOL the family and members of the community frantically searched for Lee-Verno until 2am on Wednesday morning.
After resting, they went back to searching for the boy.
“I don’t know how to describe what the family is going through. I need to be strong because I am also the contact person.
“Lie-En, I must say, is very strong. She is currently with social workers who have taken her to open a case at the police station.
“We just want him to come home safely,” the uncle said.
If anyone has seen or knows the whereabouts of little Lee-VernoMarthin van Wyk, please contact Maxwell van Wyk on 076 420 8183 or Mrs Solomons on 069 120 3804.
IOL