News
Family fears for British man missing in South Africa
David Ezekiel's family has launched a desperate social media campaign to find him, after he disappeared a week ago.
February 22, 2017 10:02
David Ezekiel's family has launched a desperate social media campaign to find him, after he disappeared a week ago.
February 22, 2017 10:02Relatives of a British man who has vanished in South Africa say they are “incredibly worried” over what might have happened to him.
David Ezekiel, who emigrated from London 35 years ago, left his home in Johannesburg last Thursday evening.
Witnesses saw him drive out of the gated community in the suburb of Linksfield at around 6pm, accompanied by two other cars.
Mr Ezekiel’s son Jason, 36, is working closely with police and the Community Security Organisation (CSO) — South Africa’s equivalent of the CST — to track his father down.
His sister Charlane, also known as Charlie, flew in to London from her home in Los Angeles this week to be with her extended family.
The 34-year-old fashion designer said: “We’re very confused and are just trying to piece together the puzzle to find out where he is.”
She said the disappearance was totally out of character for her “great father”, who she described as a “hard working, kind and loyal man”.
“South Africa is quite a difficult country in terms of corruption and figuring out what’s the truth. We are trying to work out what actually happened.”
Police and the CSO have appealed for witnesses to come forward, describing Mr Ezekiel as a heavy set 60-year-old man with grey hair, brown eyes and a British accent.
The family have issued an appeal for witnesses online, which has been shared hundreds of times on social media.
Ms Ezekiel told the JC: “He left the house at around 6pm with two people — an Indian man and woman. We think he went with them to sell two cars, but nothing is set in stone.
“They went out for dinner and then dropped him somewhere in an area called Benoni.”
She said the grandfather-of-two, who lives alone, was last seen getting in to car in the Benoni area at around 10.30pm. According to Ms Ezekiel, the man and woman were subsequently arrested, but released without charge.
Mr Ezekiel, who was born in Aldgate and grew up in Stoke Newington, is an experienced chef who worked for several Jewish welfare organisations. He is now semi-retired, though has been running a handy man business in recent years.
His brother Immanuel, who lives in Bushey, said he and his family are “incredibly worried”. He said he is waiting to hear of any developments and is prepared to travel to South Africa “at the drop of a hat”. The extended family also includes another brother Sas, who lives in Bushey, and a sister Rachel, who lives in America.
A spokesman for the Foreign & Commonwealth Office (FCO) said: “We are in contact with the South African authorities and the family of a British man after he was reported missing in Johannesburg.”
The South African Police Service was approached by the JC, but they declined to comment.
