FOUR months after the devastating Mthatha floods on 10 July 2025, which claimed more than 100 lives in the Eastern Cape, Nosipho Khosi-Dabane continues her heartbreaking search for her son, Lusanele Dabane (13).
She has been visiting the Mthatha River regularly, clinging to hope of finding her son's remains.
Nosipho wakes up early every morning to go look for her kid, and each day has been a constant reminder of the floods.
"I am pleading with the people of Mthatha to please help me find my son's remains.
"It's been four months since the floods and still I haven't buried my kid. If someone finds the remains, they must inform us so the body can be tested to confirm if it's not my child's," said Nosipho.
She said on 10 July, she was woken by her kids rushing to her room informing of the water coming into the house.
ALSO READ | Khayelitsha couple dies in shack fireOpens in new window
"We got dressed and went outside, but the water was rising fast, and we were forced to get inside the house again as we could not cross to the other part," said Nosipho.
She said while inside the house the walls collapsed, and they were all swept away by the water.
"I was lucky to be alive as I was swept out of the water in the Slovo area. My first kid was found on 12 July, the second one on 22 July, and my husband was found on 23 July."
She said she hasn't found Lusanele since that fateful day.
"When I asked the police if searches are still ongoing, they asked me if there's a place where I suspect he could be located. I still don't know where to find him," she said.
Nosipho said after months of going up and down in search of her son's remains, she hasn't been getting any support.
"Premier Lubabalo Oscar Mabuyane called and asked if there was any news on finding my kid. I told him I haven't. He promised to assist," she said.
Eastern Cape Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs Department spokesman Pheello Oliphant did not respond to questions sent to him at the time of publishing.
