By More Matshediso
Bronkhorstspruit – The mother of Mongezi Phike, 5, who was kidnapped and reunited with his family, has shared the nightmare and pain she went through over the last few days.
“I have never experienced anything like this before. We only see such things on TV, so when it happened to me or even in my area, it became very difficult to bear,” said Mongezi’s mother.
Mongezi saw his mother on television while at a centre for missing children in Johannesburg, and that assisted in reuniting him with his family after being kidnapped for days.
Speaking to SAnews, Lizzy Phike -- Mongezi’s mother -- said the past few days have been hard for her and the family.
She could not believe her ears when police called her on Monday, asking her to come to verify if the child found was hers.
“They said I should get ready… they came to fetch me. They were not sure if the child was mine. It felt like a dream.
“I started singing hymns and praying with my family, hoping that it was him. I got there and it was my son. He said Mama… I saw you on TV! Why didn’t you come to fetch me?” Phike said.
She then explained to him that he was kidnapped.
“He said he was also looking for me. He told me that the hijackers were strangers to him but did not harm him, and I see that he was not harmed,” said Phike.
It is reported that the hijackers kept Mongezi for four days with them and left him alone in the open.
The mother says her son was found and taken to a police station.
“He told police that the strangers who kept him said they were going to fix the car,” she said.
Phike says the only thing that kept her sane was her faith in God.
“God gave me strength that amazed me. I held on to prayer and the community was also supportive to me and my family, that's how I gathered strength and remained hopeful that my son will be found,” Phike said.
Gauteng Premier David Makhura on Monday visited the Phike family to show support and convey the President’s message.
“We are here [at Mongezi’s home] quite happy that the boy has returned safely. As the provincial government of Gauteng, we are still interested in finding the hijackers. The police are still searching for them,” Premier Makhura said.
The premier ensured that social workers gave Mongezi and his family the necessary counselling.
“He was not home with his parents for the past few days. Although he might not understand the trauma he is going through, we want to make sure that he receives professional help,” said Premier Makhura.
He said President Jacob Zuma was particularly concerned about the two hijackings over the weekend, as a parent and a father of the nation.
“As parents, when something happens to a child, we wish it was better that it happened to us [adults].
“He said [President Zuma] will speak directly to the mother once I get inside the house,” the premier added.
To parents who went through similar situations, Premier Makhura said: “It is heart breaking, it is very difficult. President Zuma is essentially empathising with what parents of these children are going through.”
Mongezi and his father were in a car at an intersection in Masada, Bronkhorstspruit, last Tuesday, when four men approached the vehicle.
The father was reportedly bound hand and foot with wire, while his head was covered with a plastic bag and tape wrapped around his neck.
His ID, wallet, credit cards and phone were taken. He was later found abandoned at a construction site and is now in hospital recuperating.
The search for the suspects continues and the R50 000 reward still stands for anyone with information that will lead to the arrest of the suspects.
Taegrin Morris
The premier also visited the family of four-year-old Taegrin Morris, who was dragged from his mother's car during another hijacking in Reiger Park on Saturday night. The boy later died.
“Police are also hot on the heels of those murderers. We are not going to rest until we find them,” said Premier Makhura.
He said his office was keen to find the hijackers and will be working with communities to ensure that police find the perpetrators of these heinous crimes.
“We are particularly worried about violent crime. We are particularly worried about crime perpetrated against women and children and the elderly.
He said some of the crimes were linked to other crimes like drug abuse.
“The law enforcement agencies will be upon them.”
He urged community leaders in the province to partner with police in the search for the perpetrators.
“Crime is something that we cannot allow to destroy the fabric of our society. The strong foundations of our democracy and freedom can only be shaken if a crime like this is allowed in our society,” said Premier Makhura. - SAnews.gov.za
