\n\t\tPolice and community members are scouring Mashite Village as specialist units join the search for the missing toddler.\n\t<\/p>\n
Police in Limpopo have intensified the search for a two-year-old boy who disappeared on Monday morning while reportedly walking home alone.<\/p>\n
According to South African Police Service (Saps) regional spokesperson Sergeant Maphure Manamela, Mokgethwa Makgolane had been playing with a group of children \u2013 the eldest being seven years old \u2013 at around 11am in Mashite Village.<\/p>\n
Toddler fails to return home<\/p>\n
Manamela said the group decided to go to a nearby mountain to pick wild fruit and allegedly instructed the toddler to return home because he was too young to accompany them.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe child failed to return home and has since disappeared,\u201d the spokesperson said.<\/p>\n
The child\u2019s grandmother only became aware that Mokgethwa was missing when the other children returned home without her grandson.<\/p>\n
She immediately initiated a search with the assistance of community members and later reported the matter to the police.<\/p>\n
\u2018Extensive search operation\u2019<\/p>\n
\u201cPolice launched an extensive search operation, which continued until late in the evening without success,\u201d Manamela said.<\/p>\n
ALSO READ: Missing SANDF soldier search ends after remains found<\/a><\/p>\n The search resumed in the early hours of [Tuesday], led by Lebowakgomo SAPS, with the support of the K9 Unit and members of the local community.<\/p>\n However, the child still remains missing as day two draws to an end, Manamela told The Citizen on Tuesday evening.<\/p>\n She said Saps deployed detective services, search and rescue teams, the Mounted Unit, K9 units, and the Saps Air Wing to intensify search efforts.<\/p>\n Some of the units were deployed from Pretoria.<\/p>\n \u201cCommunity policing structures and local stakeholders are also being engaged to support the tracing operation.\u201d<\/p>\n Saps urges those with info to assist<\/p>\n Manamela also urged anyone with information that may assist in tracing Mokgethwa to contact the investigating officer, Sergeant Thabo Manthosi, on 074 492 0896, or Crime Stop on 08600 10111.<\/p>\n Those with information can also visit the nearest police station or inform the police via the MySAPS app<\/a>.<\/p>\n \u201cThe SAPS wishes to remind the public that there is no waiting period to report a missing person.<\/p>\n \u201cMissing persons can be reported immediately at any nearest police station, regardless of age or circumstances. Early reporting significantly improves the chances of locating missing persons.\u201d<\/p>\n