Family cancels trip after two girls go missing

Lisakhanya Lupuwana had packed her bags, ready to visit relatives in the Eastern Cape for the festive holidays when she and her friend from Protea Glen, Soweto, went missing last week. 

The 14-year-old's family had to cancel their trip set for December 29 after Lisakhanya and her friend Lindelani Mavhunga, 15, went missing. The two girls were last seen together on December 28 at about 3pm in the Glenridge area.

Both girls attended Trinity High School in Lenasia, southern Johannesburg, and due to start grade 9 this year.

Protea police station communications officer Sgt Vincent Mashiteng said two missing persons’ dockets have been opened.

“The girls have not been found and police investigations are still continuing,’’ said Mashiteng.

When Sowetan visited the families of the missing teens on Wednesday, they were still traumatised and distraught about the incident.

Lisakhanya’s mother, Nomangesi Lupuwana, 40, said the two girls were at her house playing together on the day of the incident and the last time she saw Lisakhanya was when she was accompanying Lindelani back to her home.

“Lisakhanya left with Lindelani around 3pm and around 5pm she was not back at home and I started getting worried. I asked the neighbours and they said they do not know what happened to them. I called Lisakhanya’s cellphone on the day she went missing and her phone rang five times before it went straight to voicemail,” said Lupuwana.

Lisakhanya was wearing a red top and black jeans and Lindelani was wearing a white T-shirt, black jeans and slippers on the day they went missing.

Lindelani’s mother, Gloria Mavhunga, 41, said the last time she saw her daughter was around 2pm on the day she went missing, when she was on her way to see Lisakhanya at her home.

“When it was getting late and Lindelani had not arrived home, I went to look for her at my friends’ places and they said they had not seen her,” said Mavhunga.

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Lisakhanya’s father Reginald Manini, 42, said he was heartbroken about the disappearance of his child.

“I am emotional and angry. Lisakhanya is not a troublesome child. She always listens and is respectful. She loves running and participates in athletics at school. Every time she competed in a race we would go and support her. If she lost a race, she will tell us that next time she would win,” said Manini.

“Lindelani loves watching television, especially cartoons. She was even wearing my slippers the day I last saw her,” said Mavhunga.

Mashiteng asked anyone with information on the disappearance of the two girls to contact investigating officer Det-Sgt Ntombi Masango on 072-222-7684.