Father grateful after missing Makaziwe Marela found unharmed

As anger mounts over gender-based violence in SA, a father whose daughter was missing for three weeks is relieved that she did not suffer the fate of many other women.

Makaziwe Marela was found unharmed on Wednesday. She was reported missing at the Bedfordview police station on September 1 after she could not be reached on two of her cellphones.

The last time anyone heard from her was when she was treated at Germiston Hospital.

“We are relieved, happy, that finally she was found safe. A lot could have happened to her” her father, Wonga Thabatha, told TimesLIVE.

He said he found it almost impossible to sleep peacefully during his daughter’s disappearance.

"A lot of things are happening in our country, especially to women and children. When such a thing happens ... as a parent you get worried. You can’t help wondering what is happening. You can barely sleep," he said.

Police confirmed that Matela was found safe and that the missing person case had been closed.

"I can confirm that the missing person file opened at Bedfordview has been closed after police were able to successfully locate the missing person, who police can confirm is safe and unharmed. She was found on Wednesday, September 25," said provincial spokesperson Brig Mathapelo Peters.

Thabatha thanked the police, social media users and the media for highlighting cases of missing people.

"We are really grateful for everyone’s assistance; those who circulated her picture, the police and the media because if it was not for their efforts, we would still be in the dark or something worse could have happened to her," he said.