The Western Cape police have been searching for a missing toddler from Somerset West for almost 11 months.
Little Ivakele Imvano Yeko – now 15 months old – was last seen on 5 December 2022 at around 1pm before an unknown woman disappeared with him.
The Western Cape police have now offered a reward of R30 000 for information that could lead to little Ivakele’s safe return home.
Preliminary information suggests that the toddler may be in KwaZulu-Natal.
Ao. Joseph Swartbooi, spokesperson for the police, says Ivakele’s babysitter handed him and his five-year-old sister over to an unknown woman on the relevant day in December at the Sassa office opposite Ultra Liquor in Somerset West.
The woman apparently befriended the babysitter and offered to buy them food.
The woman left with the children that day, but she later left Ivakele’s sister in Nomzamo behind and disappeared with the boy.
The five-year-old girl walked home alone after being dropped off near her home. She was later taken to a doctor for a medical examination and was found to be perfectly healthy.
However, there was no sign of her baby brother.
Little Ivakele was wearing a red T-shirt and a diaper at the time of his disappearance.
A case was lodged with the police in Somerset West shortly after his disappearance and it has since been transferred to the police in Khayelitsha’s domestic violence, child protection and sexual offenses unit.
“Preliminary information indicates that the child may have been seen in the vicinity of Pietermaritzburg, Kwazulu-Natal,” says Swartbooi.
People with information regarding Ivakele’s disappearance are requested to contact the investigating officer, Sgt. Asanda Hlana, on 082 301 8553 or Lt. Col. Call Denver Kamalie on 082 334 8370.
