The family of a KwaZulu-Natal politician is asking and praying for the safe return of his wife, who was last seen in the Hluhluwe area last Friday.
However, the family is concerned when the 28-year-old woman allegedly sent cryptic texts to her father and husband, implying that she was planning to commit herself.
Simenyiwe MaDlomo Zondo, the wife of Sanele Zondo, the national chairperson of the IFP Youth Brigade (IFPYB), was last seen Friday.
Zondo claims he last heard from his wife on the same day, when she mentioned going shopping in Richards Bay.
The missing woman’s father, Nkosinathi Dlomo, is praying for her safe return. Dlomo told IOL on Monday that he had received a message from her daughter indicating that she was pondering suicide.
The spouse, Zondo, also stated that he got worrisome, coded communications, which have caused significant concern in the family.
The KZN police have stated that they are looking into the 28-year-old woman’s disappearance.
KZN police spokesperson Colonel Robert Netshiunda told IOL: “A missing person enquiry was registered at Hluhluwe for investigation following an incident where a 28-year-old Simenyiwe Dlomo Zondo reportedly went missing on August 16, 2024.
“She was last seen at a school in Hluhluwe, Mduku area,” he said.
Dlomo told IOL that someone claimed to have seen her waiting for a car at a bus station, but she did not appear like a frightened person as the text messages suggested, but she apparently looked friendly.
He also read back to IOL a text message that he had received, purportedly from his daughter, which suggested she was unhappy in her union and with her in-laws.
“Baba ngakubikela ngesimo engihleli phansi kwaso emzini kodwa ngibuka esengathi indlela udaba oluphele ngayo alungichulisanga mina kodwa ke akusenani,” the message read in isiZulu.
In that message, the daughter had been reporting to her father that she was unhappy about the situation with her husband or/and her in-laws, concluding “but it doesn’t matter anymore”.
Dlomo told IOL they were devastated as a family.
“We are aware that she was not treated well at her in-laws, because they were not talking to her even her husband,” said Dlomo.
Zondo, who was not available on his phone when IOL contacted him on Monday, said in a statement: “I was not home when my wife left, so I am unable to provide a description of what she was wearing at the time. Since the conversation, I have been unable to contact her.”
“We are desperate for any information that could lead us to Simenyiwe,” pleaded Zondo.
