Police offer R50,000 reward in Lathitha Mtolo investigation

Missing seven-year-old Lathitha Mtolo was last seen by friends in the Marikana area of Kokstad on February 26, 2026.

Police in KwaZulu-Natal have offered a R50,000 reward for information that could help find seven-year-old Lathitha Mtolo, who has been missing for more than six months after disappearing in Kokstad.

Lathitha was last seen by her friends in the Marikana area on February 26, 2026. Despite an investigation into her disappearance, her whereabouts remain unknown.

Police have now turned to the public for information as the search continues.

Police said the reward would be paid for information that could assist investigators in locating Lathitha or establishing what happened to her.

The renewed appeal comes months after a man was arrested in connection with the child's disappearance, but the kidnapping case was not enrolled in court because of insufficient evidence.

According to police, a 33-year-old man was apprehended and assaulted by community members before allegedly confessing to Lathitha's disappearance.

Police said the man “reportedly confessed under duress that he kidnapped Lathitha and handed her to a certain man who took her to an unknown location.”

However, the alleged confession did not result in the kidnapping case proceeding before court.

“The court did not enrol the kidnapping docket due to insufficient evidence,” police said.

With Lathitha still missing, police are appealing to anyone who may know where she is, or who has information about the circumstances surrounding her disappearance, to come forward.

Information can be provided to investigating officer Detective Constable Jaca on 071 769 7670, or anonymously through Crime Stop on 08600 10111.