Durban, KwaZulu-Natal – Authorities have located a 13-year-old girl who disappeared from her home in Crossmoor, Chatsworth, after leaving with a 25-year-old man. The girl, a grade 8 student believed to be pregnant, was recovered by members of Reaction Unit South Africa (RUSA) following a week-long search.
The incident began on December 2, 2025, when the girl’s family discovered her missing upon waking. The man involved had been staying with the family temporarily after a family argument with his own relatives, who lived nearby. Concerned relatives contacted RUSA for help in locating the pair.
Investigators from RUSA acted on information provided by the public, which indicated that the girl and the man were moving between areas in Phoenix and Chatsworth. At one point, they stayed briefly in an informal settlement in Welbedacht. During this time, the girl reached out to several individuals, sharing that she was pregnant.
On the morning of December 9, 2025, at approximately 8:36 a.m., RUSA received a new tip about the girl’s whereabouts. The information suggested she planned to visit a nearby clinic to verify her pregnancy. Officers set up surveillance at multiple sites to track her movements.
The search culminated when RUSA personnel spotted the girl in an Uber vehicle traveling through Phoenix. They intercepted the car, confirmed her identity, and took her into protective custody. Also present in the vehicle was the sister of the 25-year-old man. A female officer from RUSA provided immediate support to the girl, who appeared distressed, and escorted her to the organization’s headquarters. There, she was reunited with her family and connected with the police officer assigned to the investigation.
The 25-year-old man, identified as the father of an 18-month-old child, remains at large. Authorities are continuing efforts to locate him in connection with the case.
This recovery highlights the role of community tips in resolving missing persons incidents, particularly those involving vulnerable minors. The girl’s family had welcomed the man into their home amid his personal difficulties, but the situation escalated into her disappearance. Details about her potential pregnancy were part of the communications she made while away, prompting heightened concern from those who received her messages.
RUSA’s coordinated response involved piecing together leads from various sources, demonstrating the effectiveness of rapid monitoring in urban areas like Phoenix and Chatsworth. The organization emphasized the importance of public cooperation in such operations.
As the investigation proceeds, police are handling the matter, focusing on the circumstances surrounding the girl’s departure and her time away from home. No further details on charges or additional developments have been released at this time.
