'My hope is that one day she will come home’

Jasmine Harris made a promise to her late mother, Sandra November, that she would keep searching for her sister, Sasha-Lee November, who went missing nine years ago and has not been found.

Shasha-Lee was 6 in 2015 and was last seen playing just outside her Groenall Walk home in Hanover Park. Every year, on the anniversary of her disappearance on May 3, an organisation called Women2Women arranges a vigil in front of the family home.

This past Friday was no different, and an emotional Ms Harris said she was sad that her sister had not been found but she would not break her vow to her dying mother. Four years ago, Sasha-Lee’s father, Clive November, also died.

“For me, as the eldest of my siblings, this is very difficult. I always wanted a little sister as I am the eldest and only had my brothers before Sasha-Lee was born. I was so happy to have a sister. Six years ago, when I spoke to my mother at hospital just before she passed away, I told her she must not worry, because I will find Sasha-Lee. I promised my mom that I will keep searching for her. At the time I made the promise, my mother could not speak, and she died not long after that,” Ms Harris said.

She said she felt an overwhelming sense of warmth when she saw the community gathered outside her home on Friday evening.

“I have been very emotional for a few days before the vigil, and when I saw the community, and especially the children from Belmor Primary School, I broke down in tears. This shows that people do care and as a family, we are grateful. Sasha will be 16 years old in September, and my hope is that one day she will come home.”

Philippi Community Police Forum secretary Yaseen Johaar, who helped to arrange the vigil, said it remembered Sasha-Lee and all other missing children and created awareness “so that history is not repeated”.

He added: “Sadly, some police officers still tell people to wait 24 hours before reporting a missing person, and this is not true.”

Safia Samuels, a community worker who led the search for Sasha-Lee nine years ago, said the state and the community had failed her.

“The search was very depressing for us. I remember how our young people had to jump in water and pipes searching for her. We have all failed her. We have to make sure as a community that we look after our children. Wherever she is, I hope she is safe and is being cared for.”

Dawood Laing, a retired police colonel who was head of visible policing at Philippi SAPS at the time of Sasha-Lee’s disappearance, was among those at the vigil.

“As a police officer, you will never forget anything bad that happened to a child - especially if you could not make an arrest. Over the years, I have attended many crime scenes, but a child stays with you. You don’t forget. When someone goes missing, the first 72 hours are crucial, as the possibility of finding that person becomes much slimmer as time goes on. I am here because I believe that if I can save one person’s life, then I have done my part. Creating awareness is important,” he said.

Philippi police chief Colonel Adriaan Saulse urged residents to speak out against crime.

“We teach our children to be silent on crime and we have to change this. This is part of the reason why crime is not reported. We have to prevent crime, and for many, it’s a boring exercise. However, when crime escalates, then everyone is up in arms. I would like to encourage more people to join neighbourhood watches, as crime prevention is important.”