Key Takeaways
- Schyla Lee-Anne Jeftha, a 16-year-old girl, has gone missing outside Mitchells Plain Magistrate’s Court in Cape Town.
- She was set to appear in court on a domestic complaint involving her father, but disappeared before her appearance.
- Her mother, Elzaan Jeftha, is concerned for her safety and is seeking assistance to find her.
- Schyla has a history of disappearing, but never for this long, and her mother fears she may be a victim of human trafficking.
- The Western Cape Missing Persons Unit and police are investigating her disappearance and appealing for any information that can help locate her.
Introduction to the Disappearance
Schyla Lee-Anne Jeftha, a 16-year-old girl from Elsies River, has been missing since last week, and her mother is desperately seeking assistance to find her. Schyla was set to appear at Mitchells Plain Magistrate’s Court on Friday, December 11, 2025, on a domestic complaint involving her father. However, she disappeared shortly before her court appearance, leaving her mother concerned for her safety. According to her mother, Elzaan Jeftha, Schyla had been attending court since July for a case of malicious damage to property, which was set to be finalized on the day she disappeared.
Background to the Court Case
The court case against Schyla was initiated by her father, who made a complaint of malicious damage to property after she broke two cups in the house. The cost of the cups was less than R200, and Schyla had been attending court for this case since July. The case was set to be finalized on the day she disappeared, with Schyla scheduled to undergo anger management classes as part of an out-of-court diversion program. Her mother explained that Schyla had no reason to fear the court appearance, as she knew the case would be finalized, and she had been cooperating with the court proceedings.
Circumstances Surrounding the Disappearance
Elzaan Jeftha explained that she and Schyla were at the court on the day of her disappearance, and Schyla had told her that she would be right back after stepping outside. However, she never returned, and her mother began to worry when she failed to appear for her court hearing. The mother reported that Schyla has a tendency to disappear, usually for a day, but never for this long. She also mentioned that Schyla had been living with her father, but their relationship had turned sour due to physical altercations and abusive behavior from her father and his drug-addicted girlfriend.
Investigation and Search Efforts
The Western Cape Missing Persons Unit has been searching for Schyla, but so far, they have had no success. The police are investigating the circumstances surrounding her disappearance and are appealing to anyone with information to come forward. Sergeant Wesley Twigg, a police spokesperson, confirmed that a missing persons case is under investigation at Mitchells Plain SAPS. The police are urging anyone with information about Schyla’s whereabouts to contact Crime Stop on 08600 10111 or use the mobile application MySAPS anonymously.
Description of the Missing Person
Schyla is described as short and light of complexion, with a tattoo of a butterfly and flowers on her upper left breast. She wears a nose ring and was last seen wearing a black short jumpsuit, black and white Nike dunk tekkies, and a black bonnet. Her mother believes that she may be hiding with someone or may have fallen victim to human trafficking. The police are urging anyone with information to come forward, and the community is being asked to keep an eye out for Schyla, who is known to frequent areas such as Lentegeur, Beacon Valley, and the Farm in Mitchells Plain.
Conclusion and Appeal
The disappearance of Schyla Lee-Anne Jeftha is a concerning and disturbing incident that highlights the vulnerability of young people, particularly girls, to exploitation and harm. Her mother’s desperate plea for assistance is a reminder of the importance of community support and cooperation in finding missing persons. The police and the Western Cape Missing Persons Unit are working tirelessly to locate Schyla, and anyone with information is urged to come forward. By working together, we can help bring Schyla home safely and prevent similar incidents from occurring in the future.