AN ELSIES River mother is blaming police for failing to keep her autistic teen daughter safe after she went missing at Kraaifontein police station.
According to Salberau mom Michelle Joshua, her 17-year-old Zoe Joshua has been reported missing numerous times since 2021.
Just three weeks ago, she disappeared from her home again and was found by a good samaritan in Kraaifontein, who took her to the police station on Tuesday.
But after she explained to cops that her daughter had mental challenges and to take care of her until she could arrange for someone to fetch her, the teen vanished from the cop shop.
Still searching for her missing child, the mother tells the Daily Voice: “Zoe is autistic. She has the mindset of a child who is seven years and nine months.
“If she gets a gap to leave, then she leaves without thinking of the danger.
“Three weeks ago, she disappeared again from home.
“On Tuesday morning, I received a call from a man saying he gave Zoe a lift to Bloekombos and asked if he could give her taxi fare to come home.
“I told him no; she is a mental patient. The best bet to keep her safe is to take her to the police station because I thought it was a safer option.
“She was by the police station. I spoke to them over the phone and explained that she is a mental patient.
“Nadiema from Pink Ladies also told them the situation. They should’ve looked after him until we found someone to fetch her.
“They didn’t do that. They should’ve placed her in a cell or a room to keep her safe, but they left her in the foyer where a lot of people are up and down. When they went to fetch her, the child was missing. They placed her in the foyer.
“It is their own negligence that she is gone. They knew her situation; they should have looked after her.
“My child is being failed every time by SAPS. I am so upset because they are now blaming each other.”
Police spokesperson Sergeant Wesley Twigg confirmed: “Kindly be advised that the 17-year-old girl was reported missing and was brought to Kraaifontein SAPS on Tuesday, 09 June 2026.
“The girl was not detained and managed to leave undetected. She is again regarded as a missing person, and all avenues are pursued to find her.”
Anyone with any information about the missing girl or who knows her whereabouts is kindly requested to contact Crime Stop on 08600 10111 or use the mobile application MySAPS anonymously.
