The mother of missing Donavan van Lill has not given up hope of him being found alive.

Robyn van Lill wept as she made an emotional appeal for information about her 29-year-old son, who disappeared from his home in Blackthorn Mews, Pewsham, Chippenham, on March 3.

Detectives launched a murder investigation and later charged 41-year-old Martin Sugden in connection with the case.

Despite extensive inquiries and searches, the South African born father-of-two is still missing.

Mrs van Lill said: “He seemed to be happy here. I don’t know why this happened.”

Asked if she had given up hope of seeing him alive again, she said: “No. Sometimes I just find it hard to believe he’s dead.

“I sometimes hope he’s gone somewhere, something has happened...you just don’t know what to think sometimes.

“They should understand that he’s a father of two small children and they need to know if he’s dead or alive, you can’t just carry on and not know. It’s not right.”

The 51-year-old has spoken out about her son for the first time since his disappearance, and described him as a “good guy” and a “staunch friend”.

She said: “He was always very popular and has good friends that he met as far back as in Class One.

“They were all still good friends and they have been very supportive and helpful. He liked to have fun and tease people now and again, but he was just a good guy.”

Mr van Lill was born in Johannesburg and grew up in Durban, where he loved surfing and playing rugby.

His mother, who left South Africa for the first time to help with the investigation, was due to welcome him back to Durban three weeks after he disappeared as he was planning a holiday there.

She last saw him three years ago when he spent a month at home in Durban with the man who has been charged with his murder.

“He had two friends with him – this Martin and another guy, Mark. Martin didn’t talk much because he met a girl there and he was mainly with her.”

Mrs van Lill has found comfort in the kind words and actions of her son’s friends in Chippenham, particularly fellow South African Margaret Andre, and team-mates from Corsham Rugby Club.

She said: “It helps to know he was popular and had a lot of friends in Chippenham. I spoke to him frequently and he said life was good here.”