Cape Town – A photo of six-year-old Eva Tembo has gone viral, sparking public concern after she was last seen with Carlos Rebelo, her mother’s former employer, who allegedly attempted to adopt her without consent.
Eva’s mother, Laura Nkhana, has been Rebelo’s live-in domestic worker for over a decade.
Kennedy said: “Eva has been kidnapped. She is a little girl. She is six years old. She has been kidnapped by Carlos Rebelo She is the daughter of Carlos Rebelo domestic worker.
“She has lived with Carlos for her entire life. He has treated her as a daughter. When her mother decided that she needed to go home to Malawi, she wanted to take Eva with her for a holiday.
“Carlos freaked out and didn’t let them leave. He has disappeared with the little girl, thinking that she is his own child. This is not a case of somebody abducting somebody and tying them up in a cupboard.
Let’s bring Eva home 💜
Eva Tembo, 6, was last seen with her mother’s employer, Carlos Rebelo, in Kensington on 1 July 2024. He was supposed to return Eva to her mother, but he never returned the girl. They were last seen in Cape Town on 15 August 2024.
Any information, please… pic.twitter.com/7UCtfLVuMV
— Women For Change (@womenforchange5) September 20, 2024
“This is a case of somebody who’s grown attached to a child and has bonded with the child as if they are their own child. She is not his daughter. How am I feeling about this? I’m feeling like it is essential to get Eva back to her family and into safety.
“I’m also feeling like Carlos is a 70 plus, 75 plus year old man that is mentally unstable and beating him up, harming him physically is not going to fix anything.
“Getting him into custody and helping him get treatment and out of society will. Please hear me, please help me. For those of you who don’t understand why I wouldn’t want him physically hurt, I choose to lead with compassion.
Police are looking for Carlos Rebelo who ran away with a 6 year old, Eva Tembo who is in the picture with him. Eva’s mother worked for him, when she told him she was leaving the job. He threatened to run with the child which he eventually did after she opened a case in July. pic.twitter.com/BNkDDKtUXp
— Sah Gigaba (@NginguSah) September 26, 2024
“I choose to lead with the understanding that he is mentally and emotionally unwell. Do I believe that he needs to be put away – one hundred percent yes! Do I believe that harming him physically is going to help the situation in anyway?
“Absolutely not.The most important thing is bringing this little girl home safely and locking him away safely.If you have seen them anywhere please share this feed or contact authorities immediately.”
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Picture: X/@NginguSah
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Compiled by Betha Madhomu
