Cape Town - The family of a Vredenberg teenager say they are worried sick after the 18-year-old disappeared 12 days ago, causing him to miss his matric ball.
Romano Fredericks’s family are now hoping he is found before his 19th birthday this weekend.
Anna Fredericks, Romano’s grandmother who raised him since he was a baby, said she has not had a decent night’s sleep since he disappeared on August 3.
“He is not a child who will stay out, he doesn’t even sleep out, he is just in his room, every day. The only time he goes out is when he goes to the shop for me. He only has one friend whom he met now during his matric year. The boy came here to visit, but he hasn’t seen Romano since Friday.”
Anna said Romano left on Saturday morning to meet a girl in Veldrift.
On his way home, he was dropped at the Laingville crossing, 18km from Vredenberg. Romano was last seen online just before he was dropped off and was then never heard from again.
“I can’t deal with this. How can I rest when I don’t know where he is?
“I can’t stop thinking ‘Is he warm, did he eat, is he okay, is he safe?’,” the heartbroken grandmother said.
Anari Fredericks, Romano’s aunt, said everyone was worried about him.
“We have been looking every day, following leads, we also checked all the clinics, hospitals, police stations, morgues, everywhere. This is unlike him, besides he wouldn’t miss his matric ball, he looked forward to it, everything was sorted, he just wasn’t there. Not only that, Romano would never want to miss school, he loved school. So now every time we hear the gate open we hope it’s him, we hear his voice in the house, we need to know where he is, is he safe? Especially because this world is so cruel.”
The grandmother and aunt said even though they had mixed feelings, they know the Louwville High learner is out there.
Veranique “Benji” Williams from the Faith and Hope Missing Persons Unit said they are following up on all leads and urged parents and caregivers to always be aware of their children’s whereabouts.
“It’s also especially important to know their friends, or who they are meeting, it can be crucial in a search.”
Police spokesperson, Joseph Swartbooi, confirmed a missing person’s case was opened at Vredenberg SAPS.
An appeal is made to anyone with information to call Crime Stop on 086010111, or Benji on 0837188851.
tracy-lynn.ruiters@inl.co.za
Cape Argus