By Zinhle Cele (updated on 11 June 2025)
A Young Woman Vanished, But the Silence That Followed Is Louder Than Her Disappearance
It has been more than a year since 30-year-old Naledi Selemela went missing after a night out in Evaton, Gauteng—and for her grieving family, the most painful part isn’t just not knowing where she is. It’s the feeling that, despite public attention and private desperation, nothing meaningful is being done.
Her loved ones are clinging to hope, but they’re also fighting a growing fear that her case is slipping into silence.
The Last Person Seen With Naledi Speaks—But Questions Remain
In an exclusive interview, Petrus Mashimbye, the last known person to have seen Naledi, detailed their movements on the night of Friday, March 17, 2023. The two had reconnected via TikTok weeks earlier after years apart and agreed to meet for drinks and conversation.
“We went to a local pub in Mabusmaneng, then visited a friend in Zone 11, and later stopped at BK Lifestyle. After the club, we went back to my place. Around 11 p.m., she left. I was inside the house when she was picked up. I don’t know who it was,” Petrus recalled.
However, Naledi’s family remains deeply skeptical of his version of events.
“There are gaps. Things don’t add up,” said Naledi’s sister, Boitumelo. “He says he didn’t see who fetched her, yet he was the one who last saw her. Why wait until Sunday to call her?”
The family eventually escorted Petrus to the police station to give a statement. But since then, they say progress has stalled.
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- Petrus Mashimbye’s Shocking Exclusive Interview: 5 Key Details About the Disappearance of Naledi Selemela, the Last Person Seen With Her
- Paarl Community’s Pain and Power in the Search for Missing 16-Year-Old Channell Plaatjies
A Mother’s Pain: “I Just Want My Daughter Back”
Naledi’s mother, Mme Selemela, struggles to find the words each time someone asks about her daughter.
“She was vibrant, strong, always smiling. She had dreams. She had children. And she vanished—just like that. And now… silence.”
She breaks down when she talks about Naledi’s children, who ask about their mother constantly.
“they are too young to understand. They just keeps asking, ‘When is Mama coming back?’ What can I say to him?”
Was It Negligence—or Something Worse?
The Selemela family reported Naledi missing on Tuesday, March 21, but they claim police responses have been inconsistent.
“We’ve tried everything. We’ve begged the investigator to follow up on phone records, check CCTV from the club, speak to the people she was with. All we get are delays or no response,” says Boitumelo.
Community members and advocates have also voiced frustration.
Sipho Makhetha, a local community activist, told us: “If this was someone else’s daughter, someone more connected, we’d have answers by now. There’s a sense that poor Black families don’t get the same urgency.”
It is deeply concerning that, despite multiple attempts by both the Selemela family and community members, the South African Police Service (SAPS) has failed to respond to urgent calls and follow-ups regarding Naledi’s case.
From a professional standpoint, this is a straightforward investigation that requires immediate action from the assigned Investigating Officer. The first and most critical steps should include acquiring detailed phone records for both Naledi and Petrus to establish exact timestamps and locations, specifically identifying where and when Naledi’s phone last pinged before going off.
Additionally, the Investigating Officer must request movement data from Petrus’s vehicle tracking company for the night in question. These two data sets alone could either validate Petrus’s version of events or expose serious inconsistencies. The truth is not far—this case can be resolved with basic investigative diligence. It’s not a mystery that requires years of probing, just a commitment to justice. The silence and inaction not only delay closure for the family but also erode public trust in our law enforcement system.
Naledi’s Story Is Not an Isolated One
According to Missing Children South Africa, a child goes missing every five hours in the country—and adult women are also increasingly vanishing under mysterious circumstances.
While many cases are resolved, others—like Naledi’s—fade into bureaucratic backlogs, compounding trauma for families already in distress.
“We don’t want a hashtag. We want help,” said Boitumelo.
Life Lesson: The Cost of Silence
Naledi’s story reveals something deeper: how quickly society moves on, and how easily justice is delayed when systems fail to prioritize the missing. In times like these, families often become investigators, media contacts, and emotional caregivers—all while holding onto hope.
Let her story be a reminder: our silence can be complicity. We must ask the hard questions—Why did no one follow up? Who did Naledi leave with? Why is no one accountable?
Safety Tips to Protect Yourself and Your Loved Ones
Whether you’re a parent, student, or working adult, here are five actionable tips to stay safe and protect others:
- Share Your Live Location: Let at least one trusted contact track your location during outings, especially with new acquaintances.
- Create a Safe Word: Use a code word with family or friends to signal distress discreetly.
- Avoid Isolated Drop-Offs: Never let someone drop you off alone at night. Request that a friend or ride service wait until you enter safely.
- Trust Your Gut: If something feels off, it probably is. Excuse yourself politely and leave.
- Report Immediately: Don’t wait. The first 48 hours are critical when someone goes missing.
What Can You Do to Help?
We believe someone, somewhere, knows what happened to Naledi Selemela. It could be a friend, a driver, a neighbor, or someone who saw her leave that night. Even the smallest detail could matter.
🔹 Did you see Naledi on the night of March 17?
🔹 Do you know someone who mentioned the event afterward?
🔹 Did anything about that night seem unusual in your area?
Please come forward.
“We just want to know what happened. We’re not looking to ruin lives—we’re looking for truth,” said Naledi’s mother.
Let’s Stand Together
We cannot allow Naledi’s name to be forgotten. You can help bring her home.
✔️ Share her story on your social platforms.
✔️ Talk about her disappearance.
✔️ Urge authorities to act with urgency.
✔️ Use this official form to report tips or other missing persons
📧 Email the author: zinhle.cela@missingpersonsa.co.za
📱 WhatsApp to report a tip (confidential)
🔗 Report a missing person
What do you think really happened to Naledi?
Have you ever had someone close to you go missing?
Let us know in the comments. Your voice matters.
Let’s raise awareness. Let’s demand answers. Let’s bring Naledi home.
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