Anxious search for missing Rebecca continues years later

MOGANYAKA – A frantic search for a woman from Moganyaka Village who worked as an Administrative Clerk at a surgery in Marble Hall Town continues years after she disappeared.

Rebecca Maleswena, who was 38 years-old at the time she was reported missing on 28 February 2019, mysteriously disappeared after she allegedly received a call from someone who wanted to meet her outside a restaurant at the Marble Hall Taxi Rank precinct.

It is alleged that Maleswena boarded a taxi from home to honour the meeting but she never returned and her family reported her missing on 28 February that year.

Three suspects, Suliman Makambira, Lucky Mmaphafudi and Selina Phiri were arrested in connection with Maleswena’s disappearance.

Phiri was the first to be arrested within days after the missing person’s report was submitted and a team of investigators followed up on information. Mmaphafudi’s arrest followed and thirdly, was the apprehension of Makambira in Gauteng Province. The three appeared in court on charges of kidnapping.

Police at the time said that investigations revealed that the trio might have thrown Maleswena’s body into the crocodile infested Olifants River outside Marble Hall but an activated Search and Rescue team which conducted a search for over a week at the river was unsuccessful.

On Sunday 27 March, a group of people who were in the company of a traditional healer dug on the nearby mountain in Moganyaka Village, alleging that there were the remains of Maleswena.

Brigadier Motlafela Mojapelo, Limpopo Provincial Police Spokesperson, said they apparently consulted the traditional healer who might have told them that Maleswena was killed and buried on the mountain, at a place which was not even located within a grave yard.

Mojapelo said unfortunately nothing was found.