Solly Maphumulo and Baldwin Ndaba
WHEN the family of former SABC chief executive Solly Mokoetle realised he wasn’t home on Friday evening, they thought he was just on one of his many leisurely walks.
But when he had not returned home on Saturday, they began to panic, fearing that something could be amiss. Five days later, Mokoetle is yet to return home. His mysterious disappearance has left his family emotionally drained and traumatised.
Mokoetle, 59, disappeared from his luxury uMhlanga estate in Durban. He has most recently been working with the Department of Communications, heading up the Digital Terrestrial Television (DTT) Migration Project, which is set to to see South Africa move from analogue to digital broadcasting.
Last year, it emerged that he had received a R3.8 million payout after leaving.
Yesterday, his family and friends gathered at his home.
News of his disappearance prompted his relatives from various parts of the country to travel to Durban to be with his wife and children.
Yesterday, Mokoetle’s wife, Zola Ntuli, said she had no idea where he was and said the family was working closely with the police to find him.
“It’s been a very traumatic time, especially because our twins are only seven years old,” Ntuli said.
The last time she saw him was at around 10pm on Friday after they returned from going to the movies. “We were all happy after a night out. When we got home, he watched soccer and I went into our bedroom and worked on my laptop,” she said.
When the family realised Mokoetle was not in the house, they tried to call him on his cellphone. “The phone started ringing in the house, that’s when I realised he had left it at home,” Ntuli said.
She said at first she did not panic because Mokoetle used to take walks if he wanted some fresh air or wanted to stretch his legs. He had not returned home on Saturday.
Ntuli then asked the security guards manning the estate if they had seen Mokoetle. “They told me they saw him going out of the gate around 10.30pm, but they thought he was taking a walk,” she said.
Ntuli said CCTV footage shows Mokoetle walking out of the estate. “When I’m a bit calmer, I will be able to watch it. I’m still very shocked.”
Anyone with information can call 031 508 2389/ 2408, 031 508 2300/8, Crime Stop on 08600 10111 or SMS Crimeline 32211.