Durban – July 7, 2025
The family of 33-year-old ZamaNguni Gumede, an Employee at Shoprite in Durban city center, is living in agony after her unexplained disappearance on Sunday, June 15 — and it’s not just the unanswered questions that torment them, but the silence of those they expected help from most.
Zamanguni, a well-known resident of Georgedale in Hammarsdale, was last seen by her loved ones after returning from church. She left home after receiving a phone call, telling the family she was going to meet someone. Since that moment, she hasn’t been seen or heard from again.
Zamanguni left behind two young children — a 12-year-old boy and a 5-year-old girl — who have already experienced unbearable loss. Their father tragically passed away last year, making Zama their only surviving parent.
“They keep asking where their mother is, and we have no answer. We just want her home,” said a family member.
Despite the urgency of the case, the family claims that police at Mpumalanga Township Police Station (Magaba) have not treated the matter with the seriousness it deserves.
According to the family, they reported the matter to police on Saturday, 22 June 2025, a week after Zamanguni’s disappearance, after hoping she would return. What followed was a frustrating experience marked by unanswered calls, dismissive responses, and a lack of communication.
Last Tuesday, on July 1, at around 18:40, the family called the station again to follow up. Instead of receiving an update, they say a male officer was rude and dismissive.
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“He told us to go and look for our sister ourselves and then come back with feedback. He said, ‘Why do people make everything a police matter?’ That’s when I explained that some places we want to search require police access and a case number — but we still haven’t been given one,” said a family member.
The family claims that to date — nearly a month since Zamanguni went missing — they have not received a single follow-up call from the police. Only today, July 7, did a detective on duty finally promise to begin the official process tomorrow, 8 July.
Another officer from Inchanga reportedly tried to assist but was shocked to hear that the family was still without a case number and had not been contacted since the initial report.
“We are left to search for her on our own, walk into unknown places, ask strangers, and put ourselves at risk. Why does it feel like her life doesn’t matter?” a tearful family member asked.
According to the family, ZamaNguni Gumede received a phone call shortly after returning from church on Sunday, 15 June. She then left her home in Georgedale, Hammarsdale, saying she was going to meet someone, and was never seen again.
In such cases, phone records are a critical investigative tool that could help police trace the last known contacts of the missing person. These records can reveal:
- The number that called her before she left
- Messages or calls made or received after she disappeared
- Cell tower pings that can show her last known location or movement
“Had the police taken this seriously from the beginning, they could have applied for her call logs. That one phone call might hold the key to what happened,” saiys Zinhle Cele, from Missing Person South Africa.
Unfortunately, Zamanguni’s family claims no efforts have been made by the local police station to request this information, even weeks later. A simple step like this could have narrowed down suspects or leads within days.
In addition to phone records, accessing her bank account records could provide further clues:
- If her card was used after she disappeared
- Locations of ATM withdrawals or card swipes
- Any unusual activity that could suggest coercion or movement
These records help investigators track if the missing person is alive, traveling, or if someone else is using their identity or funds.
“These are not private details for curiosity — they are crucial investigative leads. Police have the authority to request them quickly in emergencies like this,” said a former investigator familiar with such cases.
Sadly, in Zama’s case, none of these steps appear to have been taken by the police, raising further concerns about the lack of urgency and commitment.
Zama’s aunt had been staying with her in Newtown C to be closer to work. Now, she finds herself at the heart of this growing nightmare — helping care for the children, supporting the family’s search, and waiting for any clue that may bring hope.
The community is urged to assist in any way possible. Anyone with information that may help locate ZamaNguni Gumede is asked to come forward.
📞 Contacts for any information:
- (Brother): 082 879 6531
- Family WhatsApp Line: 073 339 1901
🧡 If you have any information that could help bring Zama home, please come forward. whatsapp anonymously here
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👣 No one simply disappears — someone, somewhere, knows something.
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