The search for baby Tankiso Semoisi continues, with authorities and Missing in Southern Africa (MISA) NPC still seeking answers about the whereabouts of the child, who was just seven months old when he disappeared. Nearly three months later, no confirmed information has led to his recovery, raising continued concern about his safety.
Tankiso was last seen after leaving his home in Palm Ridge, Katlehong, with his mother, Reitumetse Mthabeleng Semoisi, 32. The exact date on which they left is unknown. According to information previously issued by Eden Park SAPS, Semoisi returned home on 11 July 2026 without her son and allegedly did not provide her family with a clear explanation of where the child was.
Semoisi was subsequently arrested and charged with child neglect. She appeared before the Palm Ridge Magistrate’s Court on Monday, 26 October 2026, where the matter was postponed to 21 November for further investigation. Despite the latest court appearance, the circumstances surrounding Tankiso’s disappearance remain unresolved.
Missing in Southern Africa Head of Communications Priya Ranchod visited the court on Monday, accompanied by the investigating officer, in an attempt to speak directly to Semoisi and obtain information that could assist in locating the missing child. However, the engagement did not produce the details needed to advance the search. According to MISA, Semoisi reportedly maintained that she had handed Tankiso over to his father and paternal aunt. She further claimed that the baby was in Ladysmith, KwaZulu-Natal.
However, she reportedly could not provide a specific address or identifiable location where the child could be found.The lack of verifiable details has complicated efforts to establish whether Tankiso is in Ladysmith and, if so, who is currently caring for him.
MISA also raised concerns about a telephone number reportedly associated with the child’s alleged father. The number could not be reached, making it difficult to verify the claims and establish direct contact with the people who may know the baby’s whereabouts. At this stage, the information about Tankiso allegedly being handed over to his father and paternal aunt remains unverified. His current location and safety have not been confirmed.
Questions remain over the events leading to his disappearance The earlier appeal issued by Eden Park SAPS indicated that Semoisi allegedly left her home in Palm Ridge with Tankiso without informing her family of her destination.
She reportedly returned on 11 July without the child and allegedly failed to provide a clear explanation of his whereabouts. These circumstances prompted concerns among those involved in the search, particularly because Tankiso was still an infant when he disappeared.
With no confirmed location, investigators continue to face the challenge of establishing what happened after the mother left home with the baby, where he may have been taken and who last had him in their care. The reported claim that Tankiso may be in Ladysmith provides a possible lead, but without a verifiable address or successful contact with the people allegedly caring for him, it has not yet resulted in his recovery.
The investigation remains ongoing, and the information available does not establish what ultimately happened to the child. MISA appeals to the public to help find Tankiso MISA has reiterated that locating Tankiso and confirming that he is safe must remain the immediate priority.
The organisation is urging anyone who may have seen the baby, knows who he may be staying with or has information about his movements since July to come forward. Even seemingly minor details could assist investigators in piecing together the events surrounding his disappearance. Anyone with information that could help locate Tankiso is urged to contact Sergeant NC Mdladlamba of the investigating team on +27 71 675 7294. MISA has assured members of the public that information will be treated with strict confidentiality.
The organisation is also appealing to the public and media to keep the case in the spotlight while the search continues. A search that cannot afford to be forgotten
For nearly three months, Tankiso’s whereabouts have remained unknown. The absence of a confirmed location means that the most fundamental question in the case remains unanswered: where is the child, and is he safe? While Semoisi’s court proceedings continue, the investigation into Tankiso’s disappearance remains a separate and urgent concern. The postponement to 21 November provides further time for investigation, but it does not resolve the uncertainty surrounding the baby’s location.
MISA is calling on anyone with relevant information to assist the authorities in establishing what happened to Tankiso and tracing the people who may know where he is.Anyone who has information that could help bring the search closer to an answer is encouraged to contact the investigating officer without delay. Tankiso was only seven months old when he disappeared. Until his whereabouts are established and his safety confirmed, the search for answers continues.
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