Police say they are certain that Leigh Matthews, who disappeared on Friday after being held to ransom, has not left the country.
Investigating officer Gabriel Hall said on Wednesday that police believe she is still in South Africa.
“We are looking into every single lead,” he said.
It is five days since her family last heard from her, when on Friday afternoon her captors allowed her to speak on the telephone.
“She told me to follow the instructions not to involve the police and that she was not hurt,” said Leigh’s father, Rob Matthews.
Matthews had followed all the instructions, he said. He had dropped off the agreed amount of money and seen it being picked up. He only contacted the police 24 hours later when his child had not been returned.
On Monday the family offered a “substantial” reward for information leading to her safe return, but there has been no progress since then, said Hall.
He said Leigh is 1,5m in height. She has long blonde hair and was wearing a red sweater and blue jeans at the time of her disappearance.
She turned 21 on Saturday.
“We need people to please report anything which appears even vaguely out of the ordinary. Any detail, no matter how insignificant it may seem, could result in Leigh coming home safely,” said Matthews.
Matthews, the managing director of an information technology company, and his family live in Fourways. He said he has no idea why his child has been targeted.
“Maybe she was in the wrong place at the wrong time, I don’t know.”
Leigh disappeared from Bond University in Sandton, but Matthews believes she could be anywhere in the country. — Sapa
Anyone with information can contact Hall on Tel: 082 568 4668.