Longing for her twin's return

2003-05-23 12:53

Annie Olivier

Johannesburg - For the past 14 years, a Johannesburg south mother has gone through the same experience as the Adams family of Westbury.

Veronique, one of Junice Adams's twin daughters, was abducted by her maid from their home in Eldorado Park.

"When I got home, there was chaos. Melissa held Veronisha in her arms.² They were six months and 11 months, respectively. Veronisha's identical twin, Veronique, and the maid, Beauty, were gone.

"They never got to celebrate a birthday together. Veronisha still buys her sister clothes when we go shopping. She's convinced they'll celebrate their 16th birthday together."

Adams has also crossed the length and breath of the country in search of her daughter - without success.

Happy's story also gives her hope: "It could have been my child. I still look out for fair-skinned children when I drive past schools.

"Why doesn't anyone in the community say something when they see the children don't belong?"

Adams is still haunted by Veronique's smile when she hugged her twins before going to work. "She clung to me and didn't want to go to Beauty."

Sometimes Adams wishes she could throttle Beauty, but pities her because she's probably lived all these years with the knowledge she could be arrested and prosecuted.

Deserted by his mother

For a six-year-old Brits boy in North West, there have been more questions than answers in the past few months.

His mother Heila van Rensburg, 28, disappeared with his sister, Nelia, 4, while he was at school.

His grandmother, Nelia Swart, says he begs "dear Jesus" every night to bring his mother and sister back.

"Doesn't mommy love me? Why didn't she take me with?" are the questions he keeps asking.

Swart said her daughter had lived with her since she divorced. The children were placed in Swart's care until a court could rule on custody.

Swart has searched high and low, but found no sign of her daughter and granddaughter.

"Where do you start? It's so easy to hide someone. Niel is convinced they're coming back home," Swart said this week with a break in her voice.

"I'm very worried. There are so many unanswered questions."

- Beeld