Celeste van Aswegen: Missing woman and dog found safe… all to know

After days of fear and uncertainty, hope turned to joy as 64-year-old Celeste van Aswegen, a Pretoria resident who had gone missing on her way to Lanseria Airport, was found alive and unharmed, alongside her beloved dog, Shadow.

Their safe return brings an emotional close to a case that captured national attention and sparked a multi-day search operation.

Celeste disappeared on Saturday, June 21, after leaving her ex-husband’s home where she had dropped off her dog. She was last seen driving a sea-grey VW Amarok with the registration number DD86HXGP, heading toward Lanseria Airport. When neither she nor her dog arrived or made contact, her family raised the alarm. A missing persons case was quickly opened by the Garsfontein SAPS, and search efforts were mobilised across Gauteng.

For four tense days, volunteers from Renegades Search and Rescue, members of the public, and police units worked around the clock, distributing posters and combing areas where her vehicle or cellphone signal had last been detected. Concern grew as each hour passed without a breakthrough, but her family never gave up hope.

In the early hours of Wednesday, June 26, Celeste was finally found walking in Kwanoxolo, a neighbourhood near Bethelsdorp. She reportedly sought help from a local resident after being dropped off in the area under unclear circumstances. According to a family spokesperson, John Best, both she and her dog were “physically safe and mentally alert,” though clearly disoriented and exhausted from the ordeal.

Celeste and Shadow were promptly taken to a nearby facility for medical evaluation and are now back in Pretoria, surrounded by family and receiving care. Her loved ones expressed immense gratitude to everyone who participated in the search and helped amplify their appeal on social media. “The collective effort of so many people – from the SAR teams to ordinary South Africans – made this miracle possible,” Best stated.

While the family is overjoyed by Celeste’s safe return, questions remain about what happened during those missing days. Authorities have launched an official investigation to determine the circumstances that led to her disappearance and why she ended up hundreds of kilometres from her original destination. The Hawks are reportedly involved, and anyone with relevant information – including dashcam footage or tips – is encouraged to come forward.

The case, while still under investigation, serves as a reminder of the power of community action and the importance of swift response in missing persons cases. For now, Celeste’s loved ones are simply thankful for her safe return — and the unwavering loyalty of Shadow, who never left her side.