Azwimpheleli Langalanga’s father went missing on the 9th of September 2020, so South Africans have helped fund a private investigator to get answers for the family.
Johannesburg, South Africa (28 October 2020) -The lockdown left Azwimpheleli Langalanga, and his elderly parents separated for far too long. As soon as they were able to travel, Azwimpheleli brought his parents to Johannesburg.
Aziwimpheleli’s mother was in need of special medical care, and it was the best for both his parents to stay in Johannesburg.
Every morning, Aziwimpheleli and his father Markus would go for a walk. The would walk to the Melville Koppies. On the morning of the 9th of September, Markus was feeling tired, so he asked to rest on a bench within the park and wait. Aziwimpheleli obliged and used the time to get a quick jog in.
“On the 9th of September 2020, I went on a routine morning walk with my elderly father, Markus Langalanga at the Melville Koppies. After some time, he wanted to rest and said that I could go jogging and find him at the entry of the park after 40 minutes. However, when I returned after 40 minutes, I could not find him. I started searching for him within the Melville neighbourhood. A private security officer stationed outside the park indicated that he had seen him exit the park about 35 minutes after I had left him. Security camera footage shows him leave the neighbourhood itself an hour after exiting the park. He left in the direction of Johannesburg CBD. I immediately reported the matter to the police.”
The family have been under a haze of emotion and stress since that day. They searched every avenue they could think of including the public parks, hospitals, mortuaries, homeless shelters and more. Each time they came up empty.
The pandemic took a massive financial toll on the family, so they turned to crowdfunding to help pay for a private investigator.
“I have therefore decided that getting a professional, detached from the emotions of the case would help. This campaign is to try and raise funds that will pay a professional private investigator to search for him.
Please help my mom, my siblings and I to find answers to my dad’s mysterious disappearance to end this stressful and nightmarish time. Markus is such a loving Dad and granddad, and we miss him very much and are very worried about his wellbeing. My dad is too old and fragile to be lost in a big and generally unsafe place that is Johannesburg. I sense that he is out there and needs our help, but I have not managed to find him on my own. The pandemic put my family and me in a very dire financial situation, your support is therefore desperately needed and very much appreciated.”
“The campaign will help fund the search for my father and hopefully bring him home safe. In addition, the campaign will assist with any incidental expenses related to the search and finding him. For instance, if he is in a terrible health situation the incidental expenses related thereto will be covered by some of the funds.
Breakdown of costs:
Retainer: R10 000
Search Fees: R25 000
VAT: R5 250
Incidental expenses: R20 000
Total: R60 250″
The funds are being managed by BackaBuddy and will be paid out directly to the private investigator. The same will be done should there be any incidental expenses.
They are so close to having the crowdfund fully funded. If you would like to help them reach the goal and find their beloved father and grandfather, you can donate here. If you are unable to donate, please share the story far and wide so that the photo and story of Markus get out there.
The more eyes on the ground, the better. Below is an image supplied of Markus.
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