‘TEARS, JOY & JUSTICE’ – SAPS locates nearly 18,000 missing people

Missing

Pretoria – The South African Police Service (SAPS) has successfully reunited nearly 18,000 missing persons with their families over the past five years, according to a statement released by national police spokesperson Brigadier Athlenda Mathe.

Between 2020 and 2025, a total of 17,968 missing individuals — both adults and children — were located after being reported missing at police stations across the country.

Of these, 15,005 were adults, found through “intelligence and meticulous detective work,” Mathe said.

SAPS also reunited 2,963 children under the age of 18 with their families, comprising 1,919 girls and 967 boys.

In addition to locating missing persons, police divers recovered 3,099 bodies of individuals who had drowned in rivers, dams and other water sources during the same period. The diving teams also rescued 2,577 individuals from similar life-threatening situations.

Mathe emphasised the police’s commitment to its constitutional mandate of protecting all people in South Africa, urging the public to report missing persons without delay.

“There is no waiting period to report a loved one missing,” she said. “People are encouraged to immediately report any suspected disappearance at their nearest police station, accompanied by a recent photograph and any relevant details, including clothing and last known location.”

The SAPS handles missing persons cases using multidisciplinary teams consisting of detectives, crime and counter-intelligence officers, the Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation (HAWKS), K9 search and rescue, the cybercrime unit, and the police diving unit, where necessary.

The public is encouraged to continue working with police to ensure swift action in locating missing individuals and supporting rescue efforts.

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