The family of missing Amahle Thabethe's family has suffered another blow. Her uncle Mandla Nkosi died in the early hours of Wednesday morning while on his way to Pholosong Hospital from an alleged poisoning. The family told Zimoja Lezinto that the doctor who examined him at the hospital told them that deceased displayed symptoms of poisoning. The 24-year-old played an instrumental role in the search for Amahle since she went missing in April 2019, while playing with her friends outside her family home in Tsakani.

COMPLAINING OF BODY PAINS

The deceased's mother, Lindi Nkosi, said that her son arrived home around 8 pm from hanging out with his friends and that he wasn't usual self. At about midnight he knocked on her door complaining about body pains. "He couldn't explain where he was feeling the pain but his body whole body was hurting and his temperature was alarming. While we were still trying to find transport to take him to the nearby hospital he started losing his eyesight and couldn't talk anymore. "We could see that his health was deteriorating at an alarming rate and by the time we reached the hospital's gate we couldn't feel his pulse," she explained.

POISONING 

Amahle's mother, Nokulunga Nkosi said that now that his nephew died of an alleged poisoning she wonders what he might have uncovered linked to Amahle's case."Since the day she went missing, he had dedicated his life to finding her kidnappers. I depended on him heavily; he was the family's private investigator on the case and held my hand when we searched bridges and shady buildings for Amahle. Even recently, when there was a picture circulating on social media of a child referred to as Amahle he was the one who broke the news to me," she says adding that "He was the working with the police in proving that the child in the video was not my daughter," she added. 

SHE STILL BELIEVES HER DAUGHTER IS ALIVE

The desperate mother added that she still believes that her daughter is still alive. "My motherly instincts still believe that my daughter is still alive, I am holding on to that home and will only believe otherwise when her body is found." Nokulunga added that she is troubled that her daughter will be turning 12 years old in November and away from her loved ones again. "Her birthdays are a harsh reminder of the evening we discovered that she was kidnapped by an unknown man. All I do on her birthday is light a candle and pray for her safe return home and reflect on the memories we shared especially those before she went missing. " I wonder if she now has a different identity, still in the country or in a learning programme so that she is not left behind with school," she said. Nokulunga concluded that she is pleading with her daughter's kidnappers to please return her daughter home. The police R50 000 reward is still out and anyone who might know the suspects or have information that may help is encouraged to come forward.