A year later, City employee’s disappearance shrouded in mystery

A YEAR after City employee Pumla Malueke went missing without a trace while on duty in Khayelitsha, her family and community are still searching for answers.

- MANDILAKHE TSHWETE

Now, a Patriotic Alliance councillor is demanding clarity over the City’s decision to terminate her employment.

Malueke was last seen on July 26, 2024, at the Khayelitsha Training Centre in Village 2 North, where she worked under Subcouncil 10.

She never returned home. Her belongings, including her handbag, house keys, and lunch bag, were later found inside her office. Her family has not heard from her since.

Councillor Nombongo Kayi expressed concern over the City's handling of the matter during a council meeting on Wednesday, describing the termination of her employment as deeply troubling.

“The response was that the matter would be sent to JP Smith’s office, but we wanted to know which direction she went. We are not aware of why her employment was terminated, and we want to know on what basis. This is alarming, it happened at a City of Cape Town subcouncil,” he said.

Kayi added that Malueke’s daughter has also been left in the dark, having last communicated with the City last year.