A Mitchells Plain family’s anguished three-month search for their missing daughter has finally come to an end.
|||Cape Town - A Mitchells Plain family’s anguished three-month search for their missing daughter has finally come to an end.
Last week, DNA results revealed that a decomposed body found in a shallow grave at Strandfontein beach in January was that of 37-year-old Aniesa Bardien.
It has taken three months for the family to finally find closure and put her to rest. Aniesa was buried last Friday.
Asa Bardien, her sister, said the last time the family saw Aniesa was on January 7.
“It was our nephew’s third birthday and Aniesa said that she was going to her friend’s place for the night. She promised she would be back the next day… we all thought she would be back. Since then we have been searching for her.”
The 27-year-old said that her sister had turned Christian and was hanging out with friends from church.
“She loved to do volunteer work and she liked to take care of children.”
Bardien added that their mother had a light stroke since her sister’s disappearance.
“My mom is feeling better now that the body has been identified. We are just happy that we could finally bury her. She was finally put to rest.”
Fatima Bardien, their mother, said she was happy that they finally had closure: “The DNA results were finally available this month. it took three months to prove that it was really her.”
Fatima, 63, said Aniesa was in a volatile relationship.
“She made a case against her boyfriend and he opened a case against her.”
She said Aniesa sometimes slept at a friend’s place for weeks at a time.
“On January 24, there was a newspaper article about a body that was found at Strandfontein beach and we immediately went to the police station. The jacket and shoes found with the body (belonged to) Aniesa, but we had to wait for DNA results to confirm it.”
She said that now that Aniesa had been laid to rest the law must take its course and the perpetrator found.
Police spokesman Captain FC Van Wyk said a murder docket had been opened.
“This office can confirm that during January 2013 the body of an unknown female was discovered in a shallow grave in the Strandfontein area.
“On April 19, investigations confirmed that the body was that of Aniesa Bardien. the case is still under investigation.”
Anyone with information should call Detective Constable Ryneveldt at 021 370 1738.
natasha.bezuidenhout@inl.co.za
Cape Argus