The case was postponed to yesterday for Bongo (in her early 30s) to apply for legal aid and for the court to get a Sotho translator to communicate with the accused.
Asemahle was kidnapped seven years ago on 2 June 2004 after her mother, Xolisa Booysen, put her on a bus to Cape Town with Bongo, who promised to take the child to her grandmother. She was then only two years old. The child never arrived at her grandmother’s home and not a word had been heard from Bongo since.
Detectives from Thembalethu, led by Lt Glen Noble, found Asemahle in Thaba Nchu near Bloemfontein two weeks ago.
Colonel Mzimkulu Hardy, station commissioner of the Thembalethu Police, last week thanked his dedicated detectives, Lt Glen Noble, WO Esmerelda Coetzee, and WO Frank Goliath who, with the help of the Free State Police, went to the Free State for almost a week to find Asemahle and bring her home.
"It is a sad story but it has a happy ending. I’m so happy for the mother. This is also good for the police as the community can now see that we never give up," said Hardy.
Lt Noble started working as a supervisor at the Thembalethu Police Station’s detective’s unit two months ago when Asemahle’s docket landed on his table.
"I feel that the docket landed on my desk for a reason. There was something about this case that made me look twice at everything with fresh eyes. God played the biggest role in us finding this beautiful girl who really crept into our hearts," Noble explained.
Bongo also arrived in George last Wednesday afternoon together with Xolisa, Asemahle and the detectives. She is being detained at the women’s prison in Oudtshoorn.
Asemahle doing well
Asemahle now lives in Knysna with her mother and grandmother, the latter of whom was the person she was going to visit on the fateful day she went missing. Xolisa moved to Knysna some time ago after her mother relocated from Cape Town.
Captain Pojie this week confirmed that the seven year old is doing well and that the family is receiving counselling to bridge a language barrier. Asemahle only speaks Sotho whereas her mother’s first language is Xhosa.
"Her mom speaks Xhosa to her very slowly so that she can pick up what she says, but they are doing good," said Pojie.
Colonel Mzimkulu Hardy (back left), station commissioner of the Thembalethu Police and his dedicated detectives, WO Esmerelda Coetzee, lt Glen Noble and WO Frank Goliath with Xolisa and Asemahle.
ARTICLE AND PHOTOS: LIZETTE DA SILVA, GEORGE HERALD JOURNALIST
