By Montsho Matlala
Pretoria: It has been nearly three months since retired veteran journalist Phaki Manas Tshungu mysteriously disappeared from his Atteridgeville home in Pretoria, Gauteng, leaving his family in agonizing suspense.
His wife, Monica Tshungu (60), says life without her husband has become unbearable—especially as she struggles to explain his absence to their grandchildren, who constantly ask about their grandfather.
“It’s so hard. The load is getting heavier every day. I have just spent three weeks at a stress clinic undergoing therapy because I have to live with endless questions, and I don’t have a single answer at this stage. All of us—our children, relatives, friends, and neighbours—are desperately missing him,” Monica said with visible grief.
Tshungu (69), a retired SABC News journalist, had a distinguished career as a parliamentary correspondent in Cape Town and later served as Limpopo regional editor at the public broadcaster’s offices in Polokwane.
After retiring more than five years ago, he returned to Pretoria to spend time with his wife and grandchildren. He was last seen by his family in June.
Monica recalls the day he vanished:
“It was a cold morning on 23 June. I thought he had gone out to warm the car for me, as he always did so I could drive to work.
Another thought was that he had taken out the trash for the municipal truck. But when it was time to leave, I couldn’t find him. I looked around, called his name, but he was nowhere to be found,” she said tearfully.
Police in Atteridgeville are appealing to anyone with information about Phaki Manas Tshungu’s whereabouts to contact branch commander Colonel Aletta Pratt at 079 891 4156 or call the Crime Stop hotline at 08600 10111.
Police have assured that all information will be treated as confidential.
