Officers rescue child left in vehicle
QUICK-thinking traffic officers rescued a 3-year-old girl left alone in a closed car parked at Grand Parade yesterday morning, after police refused to involve themselves earlier in the day.
The child was found “distressed, sweating and with her nose running” in the back of a Toyota Avanza at around 11.30am with no parents in sight, said Principal Inspector Godfray Africa.
Traffic officer Nontsikelelo Kalimani was first on the scene – her gentle demeanour quickly relaxed the panicking girl and after the back passenger-side window was broken, the girl was retrieved without injuries. Questions have been raised about police involvement in the matter.
Traffic officers alleged police patrolled the area earlier, and even though the matter had been reported, were unwilling to act on the information.
It is believed the adults looking after the child were attending a church gathering led by the Universal Church of the Kingdom of God, though those responsible for the girl have yet to be identified.
Inspector Africa said the girl may have been trapped in the car for most of the morning, suggesting on-duty police officers were simply “not doing their jobs”.
Despite the supposed negligence by police, Africa praised Kalimani, commenting that her rapid response had saved the child.
No one from the Universal Church or police was available for comment.