A local wife is having sleepless nights after her husband suddenly disappeared, soon after she said goodbye to him at the Laudium Cemetery.
Jonathan David van Wyn Gaardt of Onyx Street, Laudium — popularly known as Johny — was reported missing since he was last seen at the Laudium Cemetery, last Friday afternoon (June 20) at around 3:30pm. Johny frequented the local cemetery often to earn some money by assisting to clean some graves for residents whose dear ones are buried there and helping out, filling up graves during funerals. Friday’s are normally busy days at the cemetery, as many family members pay their respects to their dear deceased family members, on the day.
Reshalda van Wyn Gaardt, wife of Johny, told the Laudium Sun, “I was with my husband Johny on Friday afternoon. We often go to the Laudium Cemetery and this time while we were sitting there, we had a bit of a husband-and-wife argument. I was very upset and told him I was going home, which was around 3:15 pm. But about two hours later Johny was still not at home. Normally he comes home before sunset and it was starting to get dark. I waited for Johny at home, thinking he would come back soon — he always does, because he misses me a lot. As the evening turned into night and he still hadn’t returned, I thought maybe he had gone to a friend’s place and just needed some space, after our fight. I didn’t contact anyone at first, because I assumed he would be back. But Johny never came home that night. I waited the whole of Friday night and on Saturday I started searching for him— I contacted family, close friends, even his brothers, but no one had seen or heard from him. It was like he had vanished. On Sunday, after calling everyone I could and looking all over for him, his family and I finally went to the police station to report him missing. It’s now a week since he is missing and I’m getting more and more afraid that something terrible has happened to him. I love my husband deeply. I just want him to come back home. I miss him so much and I can’t imagine life without him. I later heard that two Malawian guys had an argument with Johny at the cemetery. People said those same guys assaulted him and forced him into a white bakkie. I can’t confirm if it’s true — it’s just what people are saying. But I am terrified and I really need help to find him. I just want my Johny back.”
Simond Nkomo, who works at a car repair workshop on Brown Street, Laudium, told the Laudium Sun, “I was with Johny that Friday afternoon, the day he went missing. He was with his wife, and we were all talking for a while. At around 3pm, after we finished speaking Johny and his wife walked into the Laudium Cemetery together. After I finished work later that day, I heard that Johny had still not returned home, but I thought that he would probably come home later that night. I didn’t notice anything suspicious at the time, as I was working inside the workshop. I am really surprised that now, a few days later, Johny has still not come home. This is unlike him. If there was any conflict or dispute involving Johny, I wasn’t aware of it. I just hope and pray that Johny comes back as soon as possible.”
Neighbour of Johny, Jody Govender from Onyx Street, told the Laudium Sun, “I haven’t seen Johny in almost two years, even though he lives right next to my house. He’s hardly ever home, so we rarely cross paths. I heard Johny has gone missing. All I can say is that I truly hope he returns home safely. Wherever he is, may God protect him and guide him back to his family.”
The Laudium Sun has been informed that Johny has been found in a hospital, which is known to us, but which name we will not reveal, for Johny’s own protection.