KNYSNA NEWS - The family of a young woman who went missing near Bloukrans 18 months ago is asking SANParks to conduct another search.
Twenty-five-year-old Ashelita Jacobs, a resident of The Crags, went missing from Lottering in the Eastern Cape's Bloukrans region on 27 October 2021. She was employed by a contractor working on the SANParks grounds at the time.
According to Ashelita's mother, Nancy Jacobs, extensive searches were executed by different parties, but no trace of the young woman has been found.
Nancy says a SANParks search unit was issued on the day that Ashelita went missing and she was informed by SANParks staff at 23:00 that evening that her daughter had gone missing. Nancy herself and the contractor that Ashelita was working for also joined the search on difficult terrain, which was made even more challenging by rainy weather.
As per Nancy's request, police in Plettenberg Bay were also called to assist with the search, but they referred the case to the Storms River Police. She opened a case with the Storms River Police on 28 October 2021, the day after Ashelita went missing. The investigation is still ongoing.
Subsequent to the police search, SANParks led a search party on 28, 29 and 30 October 2021, as well as Monday 1 November 2021, but Ashelita was not found.
On 3 November 2021, Nancy was visited by SANParks employees who on behalf of SANParks apologised for the delay and confirmed that they would pay for counselling sessions for Nancy and her son, Devolin, as the toll of their daughter and sister going missing has been heavy.
On request of the police investigator, three rangers from SANParks were sent with the case detective, Shaun Smith of Storms River Police, to lead another search party at Bloukrans on 28 February 2022, but no trace of Ashelita was found.
The Jacobs family are now making a renewed appeal to SANParks to allow another party of rangers to conduct a search in the area of Ashelita's disappearance, as they believe that the rangers are well acquainted with the forest areas.
The family also ask that it be considered to broaden the search party with possible assistance from SANParks rangers from both the Eastern Cape and Western Cape.
Southern Cape as well as Eastern Cape police have been contacted with regards to the case, but no response was received by the time of going to print.
Acting head of communications for SANParks Reynold Thakuli sympathised with the Jacobs family. "We wish that they receive closure regarding the case."
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