Unite to prevent human trafficking

That a recent attempted kidnapping gained front page exposure on the Zululand Observer (Monday edition of 5 August), is testament to how infrequently these incidents occur – in our city at least.

According to the story, a man attempted to lure two women into his vehicle in the morning and a 16-year-old girl in the afternoon.

Regardless of his intentions, luring anyone of any age into a vehicle against their will constitutes human trafficking and, while this particular man was unsuccessful on Friday, the situation should be taken seriously.

More than ever, parents must teach their children about the dangers of talking to strangers, accepting lifts or sweets from them or carrying out errands for them.

Without causing panic, children must learn from a young age that regardless of how friendly a stranger seems, their intentions could be far from honourable.

Let’s also encourage our children to memorise telephone numbers that they can use to get hold of family members in an emergency situation.

While most children, even ones as young as six, carry cellphones, an emergency

number stored in a cellphone is useless if the child is mugged and their phone stolen.

Parents should nominate another family member or two who could pick up their children from school in the event that the parents cannot.

Gone are the days that children are left waiting at the school gate until 6pm for their lift. It simply is not safe enough to do so any more.

Working parents could even form lift clubs where three or four children who live near each other could be car pooled by the parents, who each take turns to transport the children to and from school.

That way, if a child cannot be dropped off at home because both parents work – a child going into an empty house is also not safe – he/she could spend the afternoon after school at one of the lift club parents’ homes.

Finally, as the police advised, pedestrians should not walk or wait at bus or taxi stops alone or even in twos. There is safety in numbers.

Let’s stand together to prevent human trafficking incidents or even scares such as Friday’s one.