Cape Town - A woman who has been looking for her brother for nearly two decades has finally made contact with him.
In October last year, Elize Fielies approached Track n Trace to find her brother, Andre Fielies, with who she had lost contact with 18 years ago.
Andre, who is in his 50s, joined the South African Cape Coloured Corps, got married, and later fell on hard times.
Fielies, who lives in Heidelberg, said she had lost contact with her brother and did not know where he was.
She said as five children, they were raised by different relatives and that two of the siblings did not know Andre or meet him.
“After he completed Matric, he joined the Corps,” she said. “He became a Corporal, and we lost contact. In 2003 and 2004, he came to where I lived, and brought his wife and children. After that we had a short period of contact until we lost phone contact and didn’t know where he was.
“I do not mind what state he is in. God gave us a breakthrough. I had a feeling he was not in a good place, and I learnt he was living in a house in PE.
A Track n Trace member known as Chaplain Minnies, based in Gqeberha, assisted in tracking him down ad found him on Sunday.
“When the Chaplain visited his home, he said there are only two people who can be looking for him, one of whom is his sister. Two of our siblings, who are in their 40s and 30s, have not met him. The Chaplain said when they come to Cape Town again, he will bring him to Heidelberg. I am grateful to Track n Trace and the Chaplain.”
Chaz Thomas of Track n Trace said she had received the case in October last year, and recently when she shared Andre’s photograph with Track n Trace members in Port Elizabeth, one of the members recognised his face.
Andre had been a truck driver for the South African Cape Coloured Corps.
“At first, he could not get any leads on him. Then on Sunday, he was found. I sent Elize’s number to him, and then he got to speak with his sister after 18 years.”
Arrangements were being made for Andre to be transported to meet with his sister face-to-face.
Weekend Argus also approached Minnies for comment but he declined stating he was not available to speak.
The newspaper was also unable to speak with Andre as he has no cellphone in his possession.