South African mother ‘disappears’ after flying to Abu Dhabi

The Ports and Airports Security Department at the Abu Dhabi Police said travel documents confirmed that Marilyn Massyn, a 36-year-old mother of one, transited through the UAE on October 22, then proceed onward to Japan.

South African Marilyn Massyn, 36, who flew to Abu Dhabi two weeks ago. Her mother is desperate for information. Courtesy Massyn Family

ABU DHABI // A mother is desperately seeking help to find her daughter, who boarded a flight to Abu Dhabi from South Africa two weeks ago and has not been heard from since.

Marilyn Massyn, 36, who has a 14-year-old son, took an Etihad flight from Johannesburg on October 22.

She had told her mother, Angie Massyn, that she was going away for four days.

But the professional masseuse has not contacted her family since.

The Ports and Airports Security Department at Abu Dhabi Police said travel documents confirmed that Marilyn Massyn transited through Abu Dhabi Airport on October 22, and proceeded onwards to Japan.

Her mother said she was frantic with worry and had contacted the South African embassy and police in the UAE to try to find out the last time her daughter was seen.

Angie said her daughter called her two days before her flight to say she was going away with friends.

“She didn’t say where or who with. She just asked me to look after her house and her dog for a couple of days, and said she would be back on the evening of Sunday, October 26.

“Since then I have not heard any information – no news or anything. It is really bizarre.”

Angie called police and hired a private investigator to confirm Marilyn had left South Africa.

She put an appeal out on Facebook and has circulated a picture of her daughter, taken two months ago, to glean any information from members of the public who may have seen Marilyn or know of her whereabouts.

“I have had the most amazing response. Hundreds and hundreds and hundreds of people have replied and given me information,” Angie said.

“If anyone has seen or if anyone knows anything I would really appreciate it.

“I am completely in the dark here.”

Marilyn’s son Keagan is in boarding school in South Africa.

“He is beside himself, as you can imagine,” his grandmother said. “Of course he is upset.”

Angie said Marilyn weighed 86 kilograms and was 5 feet 7 inches, or 170 centimetres tall.

Marilyn’s most distinguishing feature is a large tattoo covering her lower back.

“It is like angel wings and very big,” Angie said.

“It spreads from one side of the back to the other. You can really see it.”

Her mother begged her daughter to get in touch.

“She doesn’t have to contact me but please contact her son. That is all I am asking,” she said.

Mpetjane Kgaogelo Lekgoro, South Africa’s ambassador to the UAE, said he was aware of Marilyn’s disappearance.

“The embassy has been informed about the missing lady,” Mr Lekgoro said.

“Normally with issues of this nature, we call other local authorities who help us search and find the whereabouts. That is the route the embassy is going to follow.”

A spokesman for the department of international relations and cooperation in South Africa confirmed they had been contacted about Marilyn’s disappearance by a family member.

“We are aware of the report and we are looking into the case with the assistance of the authority,” he said.