Time running out in search for missing German residents
Time is running out for detectives who might soon have to shelve their dockets on two German nationals who went missing in Gqeberha in the Eastern Cape.
By mid-year it will be six months since the 45-year-old Sylvia Wittal and 56-year-old Carsten Jocksch have disappeared without a trace.
Both their vehicles were found abandoned, but besides those similarities, their cases cannot be more different.
Wittal last had contact with the father of her children on the 30th of December and was officially reported missing on the 2 January.
Her Kia Picanto was found abandoned in Sacramento in Schoenmakerskop suggesting that she might have gone for a walk along the trail.
Wittal, who seemingly wanted her family to think she had plans to go to St Francis Bay, left her phone at home and police confirmed that there had been no activity on her bank cards since her disappearance.
Later in January, seasoned detective Ridwaan Baatjies was brought on board to breathe new life into the investigation.
Police spokesperson Priscilla Naidu says several searches conducted by police and the communities in and around the area yielded no positive results.
This while extensive interviews were held with most of her acquaintances and her bank accounts were monitored.
A Facebook page was soon set up with a few thousand followers focused on finding Wittal but as the speculations, theories and leads dried up the admin of the page paused the group on the 16th of April.
Although a missing person’s report is currently being investigated, police have not ruled out suicide or foul play.
Carsten Jocksch, however, went missing a month later in February. He lived with a friend in Theescombe and had no family members in South Africa.
He loaded his bicycle onto his grey Mercedes Benz Sprinter, telling his friend that he was going cycling in the mountains.
His vehicle was found abandoned two weeks later.
Naidu says his bicycle is still missing and he could have cycled in any direction of the very vast area.
She says police and the K9 unit searched on foot while a helicopter was also used, but with no success.
Jocksch, however, had switched off his phone and was in possession of his licensed 9mm Glock firearm.
There was also no activity on his personal bank accounts.
Naidu says when an investigation produces no leads within six months, the docket will be put away until new information comes to light.
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