The family of an 18-year-old Vredenberg teenager, Romano Fredericks, has been gripped by fear and concern as days continue to pass since his disappearance. It has now been 12 days since he went missing, leaving loved ones anxious for any news of his whereabouts. His disappearance also caused him to miss an important milestone in his life—his matric ball.
As his 19th birthday approaches this coming weekend, Romano’s family remains hopeful that he will be found before then. For Anna Fredericks, his grandmother who has cared for him since he was a baby, the worry has been all-consuming.
“I haven’t had a decent night’s sleep since he disappeared on 3 August,”
says Anna, reflecting on the emotional toll his absence has taken.
Romano’s disappearance came as a shock to the family, particularly because of his quiet nature. According to Anna, he rarely ventured far from home, making this situation all the more troubling.
“He doesn’t even sleep out; he is just in his room every single day. The only time he goes out is when he goes to the shop for me,”
she explains. Anna adds that Romano had a close circle, with only one friend he met during his matric year.
“The boy came here to visit, but he hasn’t seen Romano since Friday.”
Anna recounts the last known moments before Romano went missing. He left home on that fateful Saturday morning, heading to Veldrift to meet a girl. However, he never made it home. On his return journey, he was dropped off at the Laingville crossing, which is approximately 18 kilometers from Vredenberg. From that point, there has been no sign of him.
Romano’s aunt, Anari Fredericks, echoes the family’s growing concern, particularly because his disappearance is so out of character for the Louwville High School student.
“We have been looking every day, following leads, checking all the clinics, hospitals, police stations, morgues—everywhere,”
Anari says, describing the extensive efforts they’ve undertaken to locate him.
She emphasizes that missing his matric ball was completely unlike Romano, as it was an event he had been eagerly anticipating.
“He looked forward to it; everything was sorted,”
she notes.
The Faith and Hope Missing Persons Unit has been involved in the search, with Veranique “Benji” Williams stating that the unit is following up on all leads. The community has been rallying together, hoping for Romano’s safe return.
Vredenberg police have also confirmed that a missing persons case has been opened. Police spokesperson, Warrant Officer Joseph Swartbooi, affirmed that the South African Police Service (SAPS) is actively involved in the investigation.
For now, the family waits, holding on to hope and doing everything in their power to find Romano. Those who may have any information regarding his disappearance are urged to assist by contacting Crime Stop at 0860 10111 or Benji Williams at 083 718 8851.
The days are long, and the uncertainty is overwhelming, but the Fredericks family continues to believe that Romano will be found, and their tight-knit community remains committed to supporting them through this trying time.
