Child kidnappings ‘a pandemic’

MISSING Children SA says the country is losing the fight against the rising number of child kidnappings.

The civil society organisation believes that the issue is now a pandemic, as the country records a drastic increase in these kinds of crimes and SAPS needs to be hands-on in fighting the rise in numbers.

This statement was as result of recent comments by Police Minister Bheki Cele in which he said the police spent almost six months chasing a suspect and with a stroke of a pen, the magistrates gave the suspects bail.

They went on the run and the police were expected to find them again.

Speaking to Newzroom Afrika, Missing Child SA’s national co-ordinator, Bianca van Aswegen, said the system of law in the country in some instances was making it impossible to protect children from kidnapping.

“We have seen so many cases where a perpetrator is out on bail or parole and our children fall victims of this once again. It’s the department that is involved that needs to change and make our voices heard in order to stop this problem from happening,” she said.

Van Aswegen also highlighted that the country was not learning any lessons in ways in which these syndicates were operating.

“One of the main things is that crimes like these are finding more loopholes to get away with what they’re doing,” she said.

Aswegen maintained not knowing

where your child is should be a wake-up call to report that, and there is no waiting period to report the child kidnappings or persons who are missing.

“The first 24 hours are absolutely crucial when a child or a person is missing and we call that golden because that person could be anywhere in the world.

“If the case is reported immediately, from our side as organisations we get flyers out as soon as possible – spreading awareness to vast networks of people and being in contact with the police immediately.

“It is difficult but once the case is reported action can be taken,” she said.