‘It’s My Daughter’: DNA Confirms Body Found In Hout Bay Cupboard Is Missing Teen Amiena Swano

The body discovered inside a cupboard in an abandoned building in Hout Bay has been confirmed through DNA testing to be that of missing 17-year-old Amiena Swano.

The tragic confirmation came weeks after the teenager disappeared, bringing devastating news to her family and the wider Hangberg community.

Her mother, Salama Swano, was required to identify the body at the mortuary before laying her daughter to rest before sunset.

“The DNA results have come back, it is my daughter Amiena’s body which was found,” Swano said.

Mother Forced to Identify Daughter Before Burial

Speaking about the painful process, Swano explained that she had to visit the mortuary to carry out the formal identification.

“The janaza is expected to take place today as I will be with the police at the morgue to do the identification.

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“I must wait for the undertaker to come and collect the body.”

The body was discovered last month inside a cupboard in a building in the Hangberg area of Hout Bay.

Amiena, a Grade 11 learner, had been missing since Valentine’s Day after attending a concert with friends.

Three Suspects Appear in Court After DNA test

Police have arrested three people in connection with the teenager’s death. The suspects — two men aged 36 and 49 and a 59-year-old woman — have been charged with murder.

They appeared at the Wynberg Magistrates’ Court following their arrest.

Earlier, police spokesperson Constable Ndakhe Gwala confirmed the arrests.

“Two male suspects aged 36 and 49, along with a female aged 59 have been arrested for murder. They will appear in the Wynberg Magistrate’s court on Friday, 20 February 2026.”

The accused remain in custody while the investigation continues.

Family Warns of Prescription Drug Abuse

In an earlier interview, Swano also warned parents and young people about the dangers of abusing prescription medication.

She said her daughter had started experimenting with Xanax in recent months and would sometimes mix it with dagga and Coca-Cola.

According to her mother, the combination often left Amiena in what she described as a “zombie-like” state, which she believed may have made the teenager vulnerable.

Roscoe Jacobs, Deputy Chairperson of the Hout Bay Community Policing Forum, confirmed the DNA identification of the remains.

“The Hout Bay Community Policing Forum (CPF) can confirm that the body discovered earlier this week at the Sea View Flats in Hangberg, Hout Bay, has been formally identified as that of 17-year-old Amiena Swano,” Jacobs said.

“The identification follows the completion of DNA processes conducted by the South African Police Service.

“This confirmation brings devastating news to Amiena’s family, friends, and the broader Hangberg community. We extend our deepest condolences to her loved ones during this profoundly painful time. The CPF appeals for privacy and respect for the family as they begin to process this tragic loss.

“Three accused have been arrested and charged with murder and remain in custody while the legal processes and investigations continue.

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“We urge the community and broader Cape Town to honour Amiena’s memory with dignity, to refrain from speculation or the circulation of graphic or unverified information, and to allow the legal process to proceed without interference.

“Today’s confirmation is heartbreaking. Our focus now must be on supporting Amiena’s family, standing united as a community, and ensuring that justice takes its course.

“As the CPF, we remain committed to working closely with SAPS and all stakeholders to ensure accountability, calm, and healing in Hangberg.”