Still no trace of SA woman missing in Nepal

After three days there is still no trace of a South African woman who went missing on board a light aircraft in Nepal.

Klerksdorp mother of two Petro Nel‚ who is the Democratic Alliance deputy leader in the North West province‚ was flying over the Himalayas in an ultra-light aircraft piloted by a Russian on Thursday when communication was lost with the plane.

She had only been in the country for a few days on holiday when she went missing. She had apparently been planning the holiday for about four years.

Her husband JC Nel was quoted on Saturday as saying he was hopeful that she would be found.

“We’re still hopeful. These planes are so small‚ they can land anywhere… So if they had problems they could land anywhere. I am still positive that it maybe landed‚” he was quoted in a report as saying.

However‚ DA North West leader Joe McGluwa said that the search had been halted on Saturday and that $5‚000 (R70‚000) was required to enable search parties to be able to continue the search on Sunday.