In February 2023, 22-year-old German tourist Nick Frischke vanished while hiking the Karbonkelberg trail in Hout Bay, Cape Town.
What began as a missing persons search quickly developed into one of South Africa’s most unsettling unsolved cases.
Nick, described as adventurous and compassionate, was last seen on 15 February 2023 after leaving his Airbnb in Pinelands for a hike.
CCTV footage confirmed he arrived near the trailhead in Hout Bay, dressed in denim shorts, a beige T-shirt, and carrying a backpack. That was the last confirmed sighting of him alive .
Days later, police raids in the nearby Hangberg community uncovered his Visa card, cellphone, and backpack among stolen goods. Five men, some with alleged links to Cape Town’s 28s gang, were arrested and charged with robbery and gang-related crimes. While they admitted to robbing Nick, they denied murdering him.
An affidavit suggested Nick may have been stabbed during the attack, but without a body, investigators have struggled to prove murder. Search teams scoured the mountain, deploying helicopters, dogs, drones, and divers — but no trace of him was ever found .
Nearly three years on, the case remains unresolved. Nick’s family in Germany continues to push for answers, while prosecutors maintain they intend to pursue charges.
For many, his disappearance highlights both the dangers of crime in Cape Town’s tourist hotspots and the immense challenges of investigating cases without a body.
Unsolved Murders South Africa: ‘The Disappearance of Nick Frischke’
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