50 days and counting: Where is 2-year-old Milano Tlali?
A councillor is demanding Saps accountability after toddler disappeared near Joburg dam.
Two-year-old Milano Tlali has been missing for 50 days since he vanished from outside his family's apartment complex in Johannesburg, South Africa. The toddler's disappearance sparked widespread public appeals and conflicting accounts from his parents, leading to a formal complaint against the police. How Milano disappeared is unclear, as he was last seen playing with other children near a dam in Glenesk Welfare Park.
Emergency teams searched the area, but his whereabouts remain unknown. The Tlali family has provided their versions of events, with both parents agreeing they were watching Milano when their father went inside. The mother claims she checked on him during the half-hour she was present, while her husband denies any involvement. Their accounts differ, and community members have questioned how a two-year-old could have reached the dam unaided, deepening the mystery.
Family members have faced personal struggles, with the mother reportedly beaten and involved in alcohol use, according to advocates supporting the family. A private investigator, Wendy Pascoe, has joined the search, and leaked voice notes and ransom messages related to the case have been confirmed to be genuine. Police have stated the matter is under investigation, but have provided limited information on its progress.
The case has drawn comparisons to other high-profile child disappearances, and differing parental accounts have fueled public speculation. Eldoradopark councillor Juwairiya Kaldine has demanded answers from the police, requesting a full written account of the investigation, naming the investigating officer, and preserving evidence such as CCTV footage and phone records.
The family's attorney, Cecil Haynie, emphasized the importance of getting the parents back for questioning to clarify their involvement in Milano's disappearance.
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