The father of a Dovedale man last seen ten days ago (as of Wednesday 19 April), has expressed hope that his son will be found alive and well.
A Headman of Arbitration in the small village, located just outside Mahalapye, Kgosi Lekgotla Nthumolang told The Voice that all the traditional doctors and spiritual leaders consulted by the family are convinced his son is still alive.
Othusitse Segomotso Nthumolang, 38, went missing on 9th April following a visit to his father’s farm on the outskirts of the village.
In an interview with this publication, a relative who wanted to remain anonymous, revealed Othusitse’s father told a gathering that his son visited him at the farm, while they were busy harvesting beans.
“He said they offered him a watermelon and went about their farm chores, paying no attention to the usually quiet man,” explained the family source, adding the old man
only became worried in the evening when his son did not turn up.
However, with darkness already setting in, Ntumolang had to wait until early next morning to start looking for him.
“At first light, he set out following the son’s footprints. He told residents that his footprints ended at a nearby pond. He also said he later went on a search the next day (11 April) accompanied by the village chief,” said the source.
With Othusitse still nowhere to be found, Kgosi Nthumolang then approached the police and reported his son missing.
A search party, comprising of villagers and police officers, was launched. But, despite looking intensively for eight full days, there has been no sign of the man nicknamed ‘2-Six’ by his friends.
On Wednesday, the search was brought to a temporary halt to as villagers and police retreated to re-strategize.
Speaking to The Voice later that day, Nthumolang said despite the unsuccessful search, the optimism from traditional doctors and prophets is giving him comfort.
“It is very surprising that not a single person has seen my son in the last eight days, or the day he travelled to the farm,” he admitted.
“We’ve searched and questioned people in the nearby cattleposts, but no one has seen him. I’ll not lose hope, I have to believe what the traditional doctors are telling me,” he concluded hopefully.
