The Democratic Alliance is calling for continued urgency in the investigation into the disappearance of Lizeny Molehe, a young mother from Longlands in Dikgatlong Municipality, whose family has spent weeks searching for answers.
During my visit to Longlands, I met with Lizeny’s mother, Ms Lesego Gerts, and concerned women from the community. Their message was clear: they are desperate for answers and want assurance that every possible effort is being made to find Lizeny.
According to Ms Gerts, Lizeny was last seen on 24 June 2026 when she left home to collect her cellphone from her boyfriend’s residence. Although there were reported sightings of her on 2 July, she never returned home, prompting her mother to open a missing persons case with SAPS on 7 July.
Lizeny is not just another case file. She is a daughter, a valued member of the Longlands community, and the mother of a seven-month-old baby. Her family says she has never been away from her child for this long, making her disappearance deeply concerning and out of character.
Community members also expressed growing frustration, saying they are considering marching to the local police station because they fear too much time is passing without answers.
Following my engagement with the family, I contacted SAPS to establish the status of the investigation. I have been informed that several individuals have been questioned, but there are currently no verified leads. SAPS confirmed that the missing persons investigation remains active and that Lizeny’s details have been circulated across the relevant SAPS communication platforms. I also spoke to the investigating officer, Sergeant Kok, who has taken over the case.
While I appreciate the update from SAPS, I will work to facilitate an urgent meeting between the police and concerned community members to ensure communication remains open as the investigation continues.
Effective policing is central to catching criminals, convicting them and cleaning up the streets. We urge SAPS to use every available resource to establish Lizeny’s whereabouts and to keep her family informed as the investigation progresses.
The DA will continue to monitor the case closely and engage with SAPS until answers are found. We also urge anyone with information to come forward and assist the investigation.