While today marks the one-year anniversary of German tourist Nick Frischke’s disappearance, his family remains hopeful.
The 23-year-old went missing on February 15, 2023, on the Hangberg trail between Hout Bay and Sandy Bay.
Also read: Men linked to disappearance of German tourist Nick Frischke back in court
Police and volunteers have searched extensively for Frischke but to no avail.
The 1.75-metre-tall German national is athletic, having completed a climbing course and regularly competing in running races.
Igshaan Fisher, Vanroy Petersen, Carlo Guenantin, and Melvin Guenantin are facing a slew of charges, including allegations that they violated the Prevention of Organised Crime Act (POCA) by individually and collectively engaging in criminal gang activity and carrying out a plan to commit robberies with aggravation in Hout Bay.
The charges involve several victims, including Frischke, and range from aggravated robbery to possessing firearms and ammunition without a licence or permit.
Fischer alone is facing a housebreaking with intent to steal and theft charge.
All accused are charged with the murder of Frischke.
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The State intends to prove that the accused assaulted Frischke and forcibly took his belongings. These include a Redmi Note 8 Pro smartphone and a backpack with his bank card.
A tourist recently reported seeing a young man who resembled Nick Frischke in Plettenberg Bay.
The tourist reported that the young man appeared confused and repeatedly said in German, ‘112 kommen, 112 kommen,’ which is an emergency number in Germany.
According to Eric Ntabazalila of the National Prosecuting Authority, police have received several such tips and sightings and have investigated them, but no positive results have been obtained.
Lieutenant Colonel Malcolm Pojie said police had provisionally followed up on the information but had come up empty-handed.
‘The information that the missing person was spotted in Plettenberg Bay had been followed up on with our Southern Cape Media Centre, as well as the Plettenberg Bay detectives, who reported that they had no record of the missing person being seen in their area,’ he said.
‘The question remains whether the visitors had reported their observation to the local police in order for them to immediately pursue the information.’
‘The status quo remains (Frischke remains missing).’
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The family has also offered a R20 000 reward for information about his disappearance. His mother, Jana, handed over DNA samples to police in June to assist with the investigation.
The family, particularly Nick’s mother, remains unwavering in their search for him. They continue to offer a reward for any information leading to Nick.
His absence weighs heavily on the family, particularly on Jana, who has been raising two children since 2007 on her own and lost her mother to cancer in 2020.
Extensive searches for the young tourist have been carried out for the past year, which included residents from Hangberg in Hout Bay.
However, to date, there is still no sign of Nick.
Also read:
R20k reward offered for leads on missing German tourist, Nick Frischke
Picture: Tom Frischke / Facebook