A mother’s life has been turned upside down as she searches tirelessly for her 19-year-old daughter, Mihle Vimbani, who vanished shortly after collecting her driving licence in Mthatha. What was meant to be a joyful milestone in the young woman’s life has turned into a devastating ordeal for her family, particularly her mother, 39-year-old Nonyameko Vimbani.
Mihle, originally from Mount Ayliff in the Eastern Cape but currently living in Durban, travelled to the King Sabata Dalindyebo Local Municipality’s traffic department in Ngangelizwe on 13 November. Her mission was simple: collect her driving licence. Filled with excitement, she immediately shared a photo of the licence with her mother via WhatsApp. Moments later, she sent a puzzling follow-up message saying, **“Mom, guess who I have just bumped into?”** When Nonyameko replied asking who it was, Mihle never responded again. That was the last contact she had with her daughter.
Since then, Nonyameko has been living every parent’s nightmare. Sleepless nights, endless worry, and constant fear have become her reality. “I cannot sleep at night. I have searched for my daughter in both Mthatha and Durban, but to no avail,” she shared, barely holding back tears.
Determined to find answers, Nonyameko’s search has stretched across the country—from Mthatha and Durban all the way to Johannesburg. After posting about her daughter’s disappearance online, a man contacted her claiming he could track Mihle’s phone. He demanded R1 700 to “successfully locate her.” Refusing to fall victim to a potential scam, Nonyameko and her brother travelled to Johannesburg themselves to look for Mihle in the areas the man mentioned. Unfortunately, no one they encountered had seen her.
The emotional and financial strain has been overwhelming. Nonyameko revealed she even considered hiring a private investigator, but the cost—R45 000—was more than she could afford. Out of desperation, she attempted to contact KwaZulu-Natal police commissioner Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi, despite the case being handled in the Eastern Cape. “I am so desperate and appealing to anyone who can help me locate my daughter, dead or alive,” she pleaded.
Adding to her frustration is the slow pace she perceives in the police investigation. While she avoids accusing officers of negligence, she feels helpless and fears her daughter may be in grave danger. “If I can just get a phone call from her… My worry is I don’t know whether she is alive or not,” she said.
Municipal spokesperson Sonwabo Mampoza confirmed that Mihle did collect her licence on the day she vanished. This detail only intensifies the mystery of what happened afterwards. Mihle, who matriculated in Durban last year, had planned to study Nautical Science at the Cape Peninsula University of Technology. Though provisionally accepted, her entry was deferred due to limited space, and she was exploring other study options while working on getting her licence.
Despite the mounting challenges, Nonyameko refuses to give up. Eastern Cape police spokesperson Warrant Officer Majola Nkohli confirmed that detectives are pursuing leads and that the search remains active. However, sensitive details cannot be revealed to the public at this stage.
Authorities are urging anyone with information—no matter how small—to contact Detective Sergeant Mphathiswa Hintsho on **083 921 0387**. For now, the Vimbani family holds tightly to hope, praying that Mihle will return home safely and that the agonising uncertainty will soon come to an end.
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