Elizabeth Moselakgomo’s uncle praises eight-year-old daughter for raising alarm after mother’s disappearance - IOL

Family remembers Elizabeth Moselakgomo’s daughter’s actions after disappearance.

The eight-year-old daughter of Elizabeth Moselakgomo "Tsontso" was the first to alert the family that something was wrong when her mother failed to return home from her routine evening jog.

The family has since been left devastated after Moselakgomo’s body was discovered following a search for the 38-year-old Kempton Park woman.

Moselakgomo, who was originally from Mpumalanga, worked as the centre manager at Festival Mall in Kempton Park.

Speaking to the media on Monday after identifying Moselakgomo’s body at the Germiston mortuary, her uncle, Andries Moroka Matlala, described the child’s actions as an “iconic moment” after she sprang into action when she noticed that her mother had not returned home at the usual time.

According to the uncle, Moselakgomo had a regular routine after work, which included going for a jog and returning home at a particular time.

Her daughter knew the routine and realised something was wrong when the time passed without her mother returning.

“The daughter actually pulled one of the best ironic moments because we all received the news from the daughter at the age of eight years,” the uncle said.

“Tsontso had a routine. She was one of the people that, from work, she had a time to start jogging and the time to return back home.”

He said the child noticed that it was already 6.30pm and her mother had not returned.

“So, that young lady, I still take my hat off to that young lady because she's the one that actually broke the news after she noticed that 6.30, the mother didn't return back. That's how we all received the information.”

The uncle said the family was also grateful for the support being provided to Moselakgomo’s daughter following her mother’s disappearance.

He said a psychosocial team had been assisting the child since the family first learned that Moselakgomo was missing.

“The girl is in good hands because the psychosocial team, ever since the news of the disappearance of the mother, they were on the ground, they are giving the support as required,” he said.

“So, we also want to thank them for that part.”

Moselakgomo disappeared after leaving her Kempton Park home for an afternoon run on Wednesday, September 10.

Her disappearance formed part of a wider investigation after several women were reported missing or found dead in the Kempton Park area.

The discovery of her body has deepened concerns surrounding the deaths of at least four other women in the area, with police investigating whether there are links between the cases.

Matlala said the family is now waiting for the South African Police Service (SAPS) to complete the post-mortem and other investigative processes before Moselakgomo’s body can be released to them.

"...And as soon as we receive the body, it's when we can determine when we are going to have the actual funeral," he said.

SAPS Acting National Commissioner Lieutenant General Puleng Dimpane has vowed that police will leave no stone unturned in identifying, tracing and bringing those responsible for the deaths of women in Gauteng to justice.