Authorities in Upington have ramped up efforts to find a five-year-old boy who vanished near a squatter camp late last month, with additional personnel and resources being deployed from provincial and district level to aid the operation.
Boy last seen running towards open veld
Le-Virno Van Wyk disappeared on 31 May 2022 after playing with his cousin and friends from his age group near the railway line behind Skierlik squatter camp in Louisvaleweg. The children had been playing in the area after school when Le-Virno was spotted running along the tracks in the direction of the open veld.
A search was launched immediately after the child was reported missing, but has so far yielded no results. Law enforcement officials have since widened the scope of the operation, bringing in greater manpower and additional resources from both provincial and district structures.
Police urge public to stop spreading unverified claims
The Acting District Commissioner of ZF Mgcawu, Colonel Peet Coetzee, has assured residents that every possible measure is being taken to locate the boy.
"The police are doing everything in their power to locate the boy and the community must refrain from disseminating unverified information on social media."
Colonel Coetzee also expressed gratitude towards the many volunteers who have joined the search since it began, including community members, non-governmental organisations and various government departments who have lent their support from the outset.
The search for Le-Virno continues to be intensified, and authorities have indicated that any new developments will be communicated to the public as they emerge.
The disappearance of a young child in a vulnerable informal settlement highlights the ongoing safety risks facing families in under-resourced communities across South Africa. For residents of Upington and the broader Northern Cape, this case underscores concerns about child protection infrastructure and emergency response capacity in rural areas. The spread of unverified claims on social media could hinder the investigation, making community cooperation with law enforcement critical as the search continues.
