BREAKTHROUGH IN 20-YEAR MISSING GIRL CASE

TWO decades after 6-year-old Asheeqah Noordien vanished without a trace while playing with friends in Manenberg, police have vowed to investigate a fresh lead that came to light this week - that she may be living somewhere in Cape Town.

- GENEVIEVE SERRA

This week, the docket of one of Cape Town's oldest cold cases was dusted off and given a fresh look by high-ranking police officers at the Manenberg police station, who met with Asheeqah's mother, Naeemah Noordien and grandmother, Jacqueline Jansen.

During an exclusive meeting with the police and family, the Cape Argus team was present yesterday, where tears were shed by the women, just hours after celebrating Mother's Day, as they hold on to new hope in finding Asheeqah, who is now 26 years old and believed to be living in Philippi.

With this new information, police have undertaken to investigate all possibilities.

Noordien said a potential witness who lives in Manenberg could possibly hold the key to what happened to Asheeqah.

"This person said Asheeqah is living with an old man in Philippi," said Noordien.

"I thought maybe it was a lie.

"But this is not the first time this girl mentions this."

Manenberg station commander, Brigadier Jayce Naidoo, said their team was committed to re-opening the case file.

The station's communications officer, Captain Ian Bennett, and Colonel Harry Brickles, listened attentively to the new information that came to light during the meeting with the family. "There is a real interest in reopening the case," said Bennett.