Found Safe: Celeste van Awegen and Her Dog Shadow Reunited with Family After Five-Day Search

Published by Missing Person South Africa | June 26, 2025

There is a sense of overwhelming relief across Gauteng and beyond as Celeste van Awegen and her beloved dog Shadow have been found safe and alive, bringing an emotional end to five days of fear, uncertainty, and determined searching.

Celeste van Awegen, who was last seen on Friday, June 21, near Menlyn Shopping Centre in Pretoria, vanished while reportedly en route to Lanseria Airport. She had been driving a grey Volkswagen Amarok with her dog Shadow inside. When her family couldn’t reach her, the situation quickly became urgent, triggering a widespread search effort involving loved ones, search-and-rescue teams, community members, and private investigator Mike Bolhuis.

• Read | MISSING PERSON DAY 5: The Disappearance of Celeste van Awegen and Her Dog Shadow Sparks Widespread Concern

Public Tip-Off Leads to Breakthrough in KZN

The turning point came thanks to a tip-off from concerned citizens who spotted a woman matching Celeste van Awegen‘s description in the Park Rynie/Scottburgh area of KwaZulu-Natal. The witnesses noticed the woman had a dog with her and was driving a bakkie with its number plates removed—details that matched the case.

Although initial attempts to alert local SAPS were unsuccessful, the information was escalated to the right contacts through community coordination. Search teams were then able to confirm that Celeste was found on Wednesday evening at a local lodge. Shadow was with her and safe.

Their safe recovery has brought not only relief but also gratitude, especially for the ordinary people who paid attention, cared enough to speak up, and refused to look away.

• Read | Snethemba Mthethwa (33), Capitec Employee, Vanishes on Her Way Home to Mandeni
• Read | 12-Year-Old Lithaliyanda Missing After Trip to the Shop in Motherwell, Eastern Cape

The Power of Complete, Accurate Information

As we celebrate this happy outcome, it’s also important to reflect on what helped bring Celeste home—and how you can help in similar situations.

Zinhle Cele of the Missing Person South Africa platform reminds us that when reporting a missing person, every detail counts. Here’s what you should always include:

• ✅ Full Name & Age
• ✅ Last Known Location & Time
• ✅ Detailed Physical Description (height, hair/eye colour, tattoos, etc.)
• ✅ Clothing Worn Last
• ✅ Vehicle Description (make, model, colour, registration plate)
• ✅ Cellphone Status (on/off, trackable?)
• ✅ Known Medical Conditions
• ✅ Case Number (if SAPS report has been filed)
• ✅ Brief Summary of events or behaviour before disappearance

Sharing this kind of accurate, verified info from the beginning gives authorities and the public the tools they need to act fast and effectively.

💬 Let’s Keep the Community Spirit Alive

This outcome is a testament to what community vigilance, compassion, and shared responsibility can achieve.

🕊️ Have you ever played a role in helping someone who was missing? What did you learn from the experience?
We’d love to hear your thoughts, stories, or words of encouragement in the comments below. Your voice matters.

📢 Please continue to support our mission

We at Missing Person South Africa thank every person who shared Celeste’s story, reached out with information, and kept her in their thoughts. While this case has ended in joy, many families are still searching. Let’s not stop caring.

📌 If someone you love goes missing, report it immediately. Share it with us so we can amplify the search.
🔗 Report a missing person here

#CelesteVanAwegen #MissingPersonSA #FoundSafe #CommunityPower #HelpFindThem