Cape Town – The family of a missing Free State-based university lecturer, Khatliso Edwin Makgetla, is pleading for his safe return.
Reports indicated that Makgeta, who is a lecturer at Central University of Technology (CUT), went missing more than two weeks ago in the Free State.
The 28-year-old was last seen at Calabira in Meloding on Friday 5 May 2023, where he was staying with his brother.
According to Bloemfontein Courant, Free State police spokesperson Stephen Thakeng said Kgatliso’s brother informed police that he thought Makgetla visited a friend to watch soccer that day, however, he never returned.
Thakeng said the brother further informed police that he tried calling the missing Makgetla on Sunday 7 May 2023, but his phone rang and was not answered.
“His family and friends were later contacted about his whereabouts but all in vain. Police were also informed that Makgetla has never been at work at a university in Welkom since his disappearance,” the report said.
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Thakeng described Makgetla as short and light in complexion, saying he has a short haircut, Sunday World reported.
“His wife, who is residing in Johannesburg, was also contacted and related that she last spoke with her husband on Sunday,” said Thakeng.
“The room where he resided was searched and his cell phone and wallet could not be found. The missing person left with his black Ford Fiesta with registration number HKL 032 FS,” the report quoted Thakeng as saying.
A distraught relative told News24 that the family was pleading for his safe return.
“We’ve searched all hospitals and mortuaries, but nothing. We just want him found alive,” the relative said.
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Another relative, who did not want to be named for safety reasons, said Makhetha had a television in his room and never went out when it rained.
“It was raining, and there was load shedding the day police said he disappeared,” she said, according to the report.
She claimed Makhetha had car problems and was desperately looking for someone to help him fix his vehicle because it was his only means of transport to work.
She was with him three days before he went missing, and knew he was looking for someone to help him with his car, the report said.
“He was responding to all my messages up until Thursday, 4 May. He just went silent then, and I started to panic a bit.”
“No one knew where he was,” she said, and added that his black Ford Fiesta was also missing.
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Compiled by Betha Madhomu
