Blasts: SA 'missing' named
2005-07-11 07:23
Ivor Prince and Sarel van der Walt
London - "Please phone your mom."
This was the plea made on Sunday by a Dutch Reformed Church congregation that has been flooded by calls from parents who fear that their children may have been hurt in last week's terrorist attacks.
A list of "missing" South Africans was read out at a service. They are: Jacobus Nel Visagie; Triston McNean; Henk Goosen; William Masieko; Christene Govinder; Tania Anderson; Petro Charsley; Hayley Fielding; Andre Apollos; Colin Chumalu; Marina Chikh; Ronel de Beer; Stephan Fouche; Jhanet Thyssen; Mark Anderson.
Church spokesperson Hennie Snyman emphasised, however, that "this is not a type of tsunami list" of people who are definitely "missing" after the bomb attacks.
He said those on the list are probably youngsters who have not yet spoken to their parents. On the weekend, the list initially contained 50 names but most people have since been traced.
Changed numbers
South African volunteers who helped search for the "missing" found them in most instances. A lot of them have changed their telephone numbers or addresses but had not informed their parents.
There were also parents who took their children's cellphone numbers down incorrectly as well as people who are either on holiday in Europe or live elsewhere in Britain.
On Sunday, the department of foreign affairs reconfirmed that it has been informed by British authorities of only two injured South Africans. Rumours that four South Africans died in the attacks could not be confirmed.
One of the injured the government is aware of is a man from KwaZulu Natal in his forties who is still fighting for his life in intensive care.
Discharged
The other, a woman who is presumed to be in her thirties, had been lightly injured and had possibly been discharged on the weekend.
The families of the man and the woman have asked the government not to release their names.
Earlier, Beeld learned of another South African, Michelle le Roux, 36, of Westdene, Johannesburg, who suffered bruises in the attack at King's Cross station.