Limpopo Mother Makes Desperate Plea for Answers About Missing Daughter (11)
Three-Year Search for Missing Limpopo Girl Continues as Family Pleads for Answers
For nearly three years, Tshilidzi Mufunwaini has lived every parent’s worst nightmare. Her daughter Fiona Matodzi vanished on August 8, 2022, while walking home from Dzindi Primary School in Itsani village near Thohoyandou. The then 9-year-old was last seen entering an unfamiliar black VW Polo – a vehicle neither her family nor neighbors recognized.
A Mother’s Agonizing Wait
Mufunwaini describes these years as an endless nightmare:
- No substantial leads despite providing police with suspect names
- Fiona’s schoolbag found near their home in 2023, but no forensic breakthroughs
- Frustration with police over lack of updates and perceived inaction
“I’ve missed three years of my daughter’s life. Not knowing if she’s safe, happy, or even alive is slowly destroying me,” the heartbroken mother told Briefly News.
Community Demands Action
On April 21, 2025, over 100 Vhembe residents protested outside Thohoyandou Police Station, demanding:
- Accountability for investigative delays
- Transparency about case progress
- Urgent prioritization of missing children cases
Local resident Gift Munyai criticized police response times: “They had the car description immediately but failed to act quickly. That delay may have cost Fiona her safety.”
Police Response
Colonel Nditsheni Ramatsitsi assured the public:
- A provincial task team now handles the case
- All viable leads are being pursued
- The investigation remains active
The Bigger Picture
With 1 in 4 missing children never returning home according to Missing Children SA, Fiona’s case highlights systemic challenges in addressing:
- Child disappearances
- Human trafficking risks
- Police resource limitations
How to Help: Anyone with information can contact Fiona’s family at 060 679 8527.
Source: Briefly News