Missing teen found after family alerts police
BY MBONO MDLULI
MBABANE– Hluthi Police have arrested and charged a 21-year-old man from Nyatsini for allegedly violating the Sexual Offences and Domestic Violence Act of 2018.
The suspect is accused of raping a 16-year-old girl from Ndlizane who had been reported missing by her family.
According to police reports, the teenager left home intending to submit her schoolbooks but did not return later that day. Her family initially assumed she had gone directly to school. However, when she failed to come back that evening, they became increasingly concerned.
The following day, family members began searching for her and visited a homestead where they suspected she might be. Residents at the homestead denied any knowledge of the girl’s whereabouts. As several days passed with no sign of her, the family’s distress deepened.
On 25 November 2025, the family approached the police, sharing their suspicions and the details of their earlier search efforts. Acting on the information provided, Hluthi Police launched an intensive investigation. Officers later located the missing girl at the same homestead that had previously denied seeing her.
A case was immediately opened. The suspect was arrested and taken into custody, while the victim was safely retrieved and provided with the necessary support services.
The 21-year-old suspect is expected to appear before the Nhlangano Magistrate’s Court on Thursday to face charges related to the incident.
Police have encouraged community members to continue reporting suspicious behaviour promptly, emphasising that early reporting significantly improves the chances of recovering missing children and ensuring swift justice for victims.
(Courtesy Pic)
