Seven days after the DA North West deputy leader Petro Nel went missing, her family was still hopeful she would be found, her husband said on Thursday, before leaving for Nepal.
"We are still positive... we hope they find her," her husband JC Nel said.
"I am flying tonight [Thursday] and my two boys will leave on Saturday around lunch time. We want to be there for whatever comes out of the search. We hope on arrival they would have found her," he said.
He said the family received support from many people.
"Under these circumstances, no news is good news. We have not heard anything. All we know is the weather is clearing. We have many people supporting us in prayers. Petro touched many people's lives."
Nel was in Nepal on holiday. She and a Russian pilot had taken to the air from Pokhara on Thursday last week for a sight-seeing adventure. All contact was lost with their light aircraft.
The DA said the search was continuing.
"The ground search is continuing today [Thursday]. The search team is focusing on a specific area in the woods. The weather plays a huge role in the search and rescue operation," spokesperson Nicolize van Der Walt said.
"This week was also the start of a nine-day Hindu religious event and this might have a small impact on the search, as some of the members of the search team might participate in these holy activities," "she said.
Petro Nel served as a DA ward councillor in the Matlosana municipality in Klerksdorp. She was elected DA North West deputy leader on May 25 at the provincial congress in Hartbeespoort Dam near Brits.
Source: News24
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