2018 Year in Review: Durban rallies behind family of missing Durban boy

2018 Year in Review: Durban rallies behind family of missing Durban boy

The kidnapping of Sydenham boy, Miguel Louw sparked outrage in Durban and even saw Police Minister Bheki Cele attend his school memorial service.

Missing 10-year-old, Miguel Louw
Supplied

Miguel went missing from outside Rippon Primary School in Sydenham in July. He was last seen on security footage in a fast food outlet not far from his home.

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Mohamed Ebrahim, a man known to the boy's mother, was arrested a few days later. Despite the suspect being taken into custody, there was still no sign of Miguel and the frantic search for him continued.

The massive city-wide search for Miguel continued for months, with some concerned Durban residents even erecting a massive billboard on the side of the N3 freeway calling for his safe return.

The story though would end in tragedy for his family.

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Police who had been chasing after a suspected robber stumbled upon the remains of a young boy in school uniform in Phoenix, north of Durban in September.DNA tests had to be conducted to confirm the identity of the child. It was Miguel.

Despite the discovery of Miguel's body, Ebrahim was eventually released on bail, while still only facing charges of kidnapping.

Angry community family members chased after the 43-year-old inside the Durban Magistrate's Court after an appearance in October and officers had to escort him from the building.

However, Ebrahim was arrested in early December and charged with Miguel's murder.

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He was remanded into custody at Westville Prison.

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