Woman reunites with Northern Cape family after 53 years missing
CAPE TOWN - It was a momentous occasion for the Northern Cape family of a 69-year-old woman, long believed to have died after being estranged and missing for more than 50 years, as they were finally reunited.
This reunion was made possible by the efforts of the missing persons organisation Track n Trace, which utilised its resources and social media to trace the family of Katriena “Meisiekind” Tieties.
Tieties, originally from Prieska, left home at the age of 18 and built a life in Mitchell’s Plain’s “The Farm”. Her relatives, believing she was missing and had passed away, were shocked and relieved when a Facebook post last week surfaced, searching for her family.
Sadly, Tieties’s siblings and parents have since passed away.
Chaz Thomas, from Track n Trace, said they were determined to find her family and were pleased with the happy outcome.
“The year began on a positive note as we managed to trace her family within three hours after making a post on a Facebook page for the Northern Cape,” said Thomas.
“She has not been in contact with her family for about 53 years and we appreciate Track n Trace members for always being willing to help despite receiving no payment, as this is a voluntary initiative. Katriena was living with a family in Mitchell’s Plain, The Farm.”
Thomas explained that a neighbor of Tieties, who was married to one of her relatives, recognised her through the photograph shared on Facebook.
A neighbour of hers in Prieska, Yvonne Phila van Staden, said her family was relieved that Tieties was still alive.
“I have known Katriena since she was a child and I live opposite her family - we called her Meisiekind,” Van Staden explained.
“They lived in 18de Straat. Most of her family has passed on, such as her mother, brothers and sisters, and there is only a grandchild left behind and another in Johannesburg.
“She has been away from the house for such a long time that we believed that she had passed away.
“The family is now welcoming her back home with open arms because they have been searching for her for years.
“The family will be visiting the Western Cape to see her and take her back home.”
Tieties has since declined to be interviewed.
Her landlord, Dianne Koelman, confirmed she was eager to be reunited with her family and appreciated the assistance of Track n Trace.