PIETERMARITZBURG – After five agonizing months of searching, the Manyoni family’s desperate efforts to find their beloved son, Sibonga Manyoni, have ended in heartbreak. The young student, who went missing in August last year after leaving Cape Town College, has been found—but tragically, he is no more.
The Disappearance of Sibonga Manyoni
Sibonga, a promising student from Pietermaritzburg, KwaZulu-Natal, mysteriously disappeared on August 20, 2024. His sudden vanishing sparked a widespread search, with social media appeals and community-led efforts hoping to bring him home safely. However, the family has now confirmed the devastating news: Sbonga drowned at Clifton Beach in Camps Bay, Cape Town, during the same month he went missing.
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Discovery of an Unidentified Body at Clifton Beach
His body, unidentified for months, was eventually recovered from the ocean, its discovery made by a jogger who spotted the remains washed ashore. Authorities were alerted, and his body was taken to a local state mortuary, where it remained unclaimed due to a lack of identification. Tragically, he was on the verge of being buried as an unknown pauper.
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Social Media Leads to a Breakthrough
The breakthrough in the case came when a concerned individual, who had seen social media posts about Sbonga’s disappearance, connected the dots and reached out to the family. This led to a positive identification of his remains, bringing long-awaited—but sorrowful—closure to the grieving family.
Family Prepares for Final Farewell
The family has confirmed to Missing Person South Africa that Sbonga’s body will be transported to Pietermaritzburg tomorrow, with the funeral set to take place next week Saturday.
Now, the Manyoni and Mhlongo families are preparing to transport Sbonga’s body back to Pietermaritzburg, where he will finally be laid to rest with dignity.
Family Expresses Gratitude for Public Support
The family extends heartfelt gratitude to everyone who contributed to the search, whether by sharing posts, offering information, or providing support during this painful time.
“Thank you to everyone who stood by us, helped us, and prayed for our family. Although the outcome was not what we had hoped for, we are grateful for your kindness,” the family said in a statement.
Raising Awareness on Missing Persons in South Africa
Sbonga’s tragic fate has left many questioning how missing persons are handled in South Africa, and whether more can be done to ensure that unidentified bodies are properly investigated to reunite families with their lost loved ones sooner.
For now, the Manyoni family must say their final goodbyes, mourning the loss of a young life taken too soon.
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