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The increased risk of more children being abducted during the 2010 World Cup |
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Monday, 24 May 2010 19:56 |
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According to news reports their is a big risk of more children been kidnapped in South Africa than the past as part of an expected increase in human trafficking due to the hosting of the Soccer World Cup.
During the last few months I have received on three occasions information via e-mail about approximately ten incidents where it is claimed that children have either been kidnapped or nearly kidnapped. I was able to make follow-ups on some of the incidents all that turned out to be hoaxes.
I have however also come across newspaper reports and in one case information was supplied to me by a friend of confirmed cases of children that was nearly kidnapped during the last few months.
An article appeared in the Sunday Times of 28 March 2010 in which Port Elizabeth Police Spokesman Andre Beetge are quoted that there had “definitely been an increase” in attempted abductions by syndicates. See http://www.timeslive.co.za/sundaytimes/article376987.ece/Human-trafficking-red-alert The article also contains information about:
The attempted snatching of a six-year-old at a school in Eshowe, Zululand;
Cellphone pictures taken by unknown people outside dozens of schools in KwaZulu-Natal, Johannesburg and Pretoria;
An offer to "buy" two teenage sisters at a drag race event in Port Elizabeth; and
Children in Durban offered extravagant gifts to lure them from their parents.
In the same article their is a story of a two year old girl who was nearly abducted in the middle of March 2010 by a couple at an Umhlanga Shopping mall. The article can be read at http://www.timeslive.co.za/sundaytimes/article376992.ece/It-can-happen-in-just-12-seconds
A friend of mine has told me about a family member who was present when everything has indicated that six Asiatic men was on the verge of abducting a four year old girl in the beginning of January 2010 in The Company Gardens in Cape Town. The girl was part of a group of people of which the gentleman also formed part.
At http://www.news24.com/Content/SouthAfrica/News/1059/ce2a328d6d624c498fcba8eca101940c/10-02-2010-09-14/Granny_stops_kidnappera story can be read of a five year old girl of Klerksdorp that was nearly snatched on 8 February 2010 from her grandmother. I quote: “On the Monday afternoon a woman who drove past, saw how the man grabbed the child and immediately turned around and drove up to them. The attacker then ran off.
‘Further down the road a blue car stood with three men in it. All four of the men fled in the car. I couldn't see what kind of car it was,’ said the grandmother. She and her family praised the woman who was brave enough to become involved and was able to prevent a possible tragedy from happening.”
It thus seem that there is definitely at present a greater risk of children been abducted than in the past. Please warn your family members and friends about this.
Missing Children South Africa is an organisation that assists with the tracing of Missing Children. Their website is at http://www.missingchildren.org.za/MCSA/About_MCSA.htmlAfter and abduction has occurred Judy Botes of Missing Children South Africa can be contacted at 072 647 7464 to assist with the tracing of the child. For more information in this regard see http://www.missingchildren.org.za/MCSA/Saving_a_Child.html
The following guidelines are given in the Sunday Times of 28 March to help you minimise the risk of your childe been abducted:
1. Ensure your child understands the concept of "stranger". A child's perception of stranger can change depending on what the person looks like, says, or does.
2. Don't hesitate to explain to children the dangers that exist. Awareness can help protect them.
3. Teach your child tools they can use to draw attention and/or escape if someone grabs them. These include screaming, punching, scratching and biting.
4. Educate your child on the danger of abductions in a language they can understand.
5. Never leave your child unattended in a public place and always ensure that you can see them. If they need to go to the bathroom, always go with them.
6. Listen closely when your child talks about their friends and other people with whom they spend time when you are not around. If you feel uncomfortable with what you have heard, ask questions and get more clarity.
7. Teach your child that there can never be any secrets from you and if anyone, including family, asks your child to keep a secret he or she must tell you.
8. Make sure your children memorise their full names and address, including city and phone number with area code.
9. Using a play phone, teach children when and how to dial 1011.
10. Teach your children to go to a shop assistant, security officer or police officer if they ever get lost in a mall or on the street.
11. Have your children check in with you when they arrive home. Set rules for having friends over when you're not there and for your children going to friends' homes when no adults are there.
12. Explain how important it is not to let anyone into the house without your permission.
13. At school, encourage them to stick with their friends rather than walking or playing alone. - Monica Laganparsad |
YOURS FAUTHFULLY CONCERNED LEARNER