Dad warns parents about stranger looking for ‘love’

A TRAUMATISED father has urged parents to be wary of strangers after his five-year-old daughter was almost snatched by a man who wanted “love”.

The suspect turned out to be a certified mental patient.

The father, who did not want to be named, was fetching his daughter, a Grade R pupil at the Crescent Ridge Primary School in Chatsworth, when she was taken leaving the school last week.

Her father said: “My daughter was with me and her uncle when a well-dressed Indian man with a spiky hairdo approached us. I didn’t think anything of it until he grabbed my daughter and started walking towards the exit. When I ran after him to recover my child, he said he wanted love.”

Police spokesperson, Colonel Thembeka Mbhele, said the suspect was arrested.

“The case was withdrawn in court after he was identified as a certified mental patient. Parents need to teach children about the dangers of strangers.”

The child’s father added: “Don’t trust anyone. He [the suspect] was neat and tidy and we took it for granted we were safe.

“My daughter has returned to school. We told her he wanted to take her to lunch, so she wasn’t traumatised further.”

Kwazulu-natal Department of Education spokesperson, Kwazi Mthethwa, said: “We thank the parent for his bravery and police for appr ehending the suspect.

“We are committed to ensuring the safety of all our pupils and we need to work together to this end.”