The search for 19-year-old Ntshuxeko Mhlongo, from Relela village, has taken a concerning turn after his school bag was reportedly discovered in a dam near Thapane village.
Mhlongo was reported missing on Thursday, 3 September 2026, after he failed to return home from school. His disappearance has left his family and members of the local community deeply worried as efforts to locate him continue.
According to information provided by the family, Mhlongo was on his way home from school in Fobeni Village when he was allegedly followed by a group of male learners from the same school. The family claims that the boys pursued and attacked him.
At the time of his disappearance, Mhlongo was reportedly wearing his school uniform, consisting of a white shirt and grey trousers. However, he never arrived home, and his whereabouts remain unknown.
The discovery of his school bag in the dam has raised further concern and is now being treated as an important possible lead in the search. It remains unclear how the bag ended up in the water or whether its location is directly connected to Mhlongo’s disappearance.
Community members have joined the family in efforts to find the teenager and have called for additional resources to assist with the search. Among the measures being requested is the involvement of the police K-9 unit, whose trained search dogs could potentially help trace Mhlongo’s movements or locate evidence in the surrounding area.
The circumstances surrounding the alleged attack have not yet been independently confirmed, and it is also unclear whether anyone has been arrested or formally linked to the teenager’s disappearance.
Residents remain hopeful that the search efforts will lead to answers and that Mhlongo will be found safely. The discovery of his school bag has nevertheless intensified concerns about what may have happened to him after he left school.
The family is appealing to anyone who may have seen Mhlongo or noticed anything unusual in the area around Fobeni, Relela or Thapane to come forward with information that could assist the investigation.
As the search continues, community members are urging authorities to investigate every possible lead and to establish the circumstances surrounding the teenager’s disappearance.
Anyone with information about Ntshuxeko Mhlongo’s whereabouts is encouraged to report it to the police or the relevant authorities. His family continues to hope that the ongoing search will bring him home and provide clarity about what happened to him.
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