Two-year-old Omphile Sithole has been missing from her home in Ga-Mabuela village near Mokopane in Limpopo since the early hours of 2 May 2026. Her paternal grandparents have been arrested on charges of child negligence. Photo credit: @admin
The paternal grandparents of missing two-year-old Omphile Sithole have been arrested on charges of child negligence as the search for the toddler enters its third week. Omphile disappeared from her home in Ga-Mabuela village near Mokopane in Limpopo in the early hours of 2 May 2026 and has not been found. The pair are expected to appear in court on Monday.
The case of missing two-year-old Omphile Sithole has taken a dramatic turn after Limpopo police arrested her paternal grandparents on charges of child negligence on Friday 17 May 2026. The arrests were carried out by the Family Violence Child Protection and Sexual Offences unit in Mokopane. Vinolia Mabuela, 52, and her 55-year-old husband are expected to appear before the Mahwelereng Magistrate’s Court on Monday 18 May 2026. Omphile has now been missing for 15 days and has not been found.
The Night Omphile Disappeared
Omphile Sithole was two years old when she vanished from her home in Ga-Mabuela village in the Mapela area near Mokopane in Limpopo in the early hours of Saturday 2 May 2026. According to police and family accounts, Omphile had been sleeping alongside her 52-year-old grandmother at the family home. The grandmother woke at approximately 2am to use the bathroom and took the toddler with her before returning to bed. When she woke again at approximately 6am, Omphile was gone. A window in the room was found open.
Police initially opened cases of housebreaking and kidnapping following the disappearance. Omphile was last seen wearing a pink jersey and black tights. Despite extensive search operations involving police, community members and volunteers, the child has not been located.
Omphile’s father revealed in the days following her disappearance that a suspicious vehicle had been seen driving slowly around their yard the day before she vanished. The family said they were holding on to hope for her safe return.
Community Rallies Behind the Search
The disappearance of such a young child from her home in a rural community shook Limpopo and captured national attention. Community members in Ga-Mabuela village joined police and volunteers in combing surrounding areas for any trace of the toddler. Prayer gatherings were held and the hashtag #BringBackOmphile circulated widely on social media as South Africans amplified the family’s plea for information.
Limpopo Provincial Commissioner Lieutenant General Thembi Hadebe was forced on multiple occasions to warn the public against the spread of misinformation, including false reports circulating on social media claiming that Omphile had been found deceased. “This information is untrue, and the baby girl has not been found. The search for the missing toddler is ongoing,” Hadebe said in response to those false claims.
Grandparents Arrested on Child Negligence Charges
On Friday 17 May 2026, officers from the Mokopane Family Violence Child Protection and Sexual Offences unit arrested Omphile’s paternal grandparents on charges of child negligence. The arrests represent a significant development in the investigation, signalling that authorities have found sufficient grounds to hold the grandparents criminally responsible for the circumstances in which the toddler came to be unaccounted for.
Limpopo police spokesperson Colonel Malesela Ledwaba confirmed the arrests and stated that investigations into the whereabouts of Omphile are continuing in parallel with the criminal proceedings against the grandparents. Limpopo Provincial Commissioner Lieutenant General Thembi Hadebe welcomed the arrests while reiterating her call for community cooperation.
“We have assembled experienced investigators from the Mokopane FCS Unit who are working around the clock to trace the missing child and establish all circumstances surrounding her disappearance. We remain committed to ensuring that those responsible are brought to book,” Hadebe said.
Omphile Is Still Missing
Despite the arrests of her grandparents, Omphile Sithole remains missing at the time of publication. Police have confirmed that the search for the toddler is continuing and urged members of the public to provide any credible information that could assist investigators in locating her safely. Authorities have also warned the public against sharing unverified information that could compromise the investigation or cause further distress to the family.
Anyone with information regarding the whereabouts of Omphile Sithole is urged to contact the Mokopane FCS investigating officer Warrant Officer Chuene Selolo on 082 469 2594, Crime Stop on 08600 10111, their nearest police station, or submit information anonymously through the MySAPS App.
Editors Note Vinolia Mabuela and her husband are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law. All charges referenced in this article are unproven and will be tested in court. Omphile Sithole remains missing at the time of publication. Mzansi Today Live will update this article as further information becomes available.