South Africa – The National Coordinator of Missing Children SA notified that over 1300 cases of abducted children and adults are reported to the police each month. Although specific data on the number of missing children resulting from kidnappings is unavailable, Bianca Van Aswegen noted an uptick in such reported cases to her organisation.
This information comes to light amid the disappearance of 10-year-old Joshlin Smith from her family home. Over two weeks have passed since she went missing.
Despite Joshlin’s unknown whereabouts and the ongoing search efforts, it is essential to note there has been a substantial increase in kidnappings targeting children from wealthy families. These cases involve the abduction of children for ransom.
“Money is quite at the forefront when it comes to any crime. We also have with our children parental kidnappings that happen. We’ve got opportunistic kidnappings that happen, and then we also see human trafficking cases that happen.”
While it might be tempting to perceive South Africa as a breeding ground for criminals given the high crime rate, the issues of kidnapping and human trafficking are challenges experienced worldwide.
Hence, it is crucial to bear this in mind when travelling within, to, or from South Africa. It is essential to communicate with friends and family and to let them know your whereabouts and plans.
Be conscious of your safety. Exercise extreme caution regarding your surroundings and the whereabouts of your children in light of these global concerns.
“Everybody needs to be careful because it’s a reality. It happens, and it can happen to anybody. Whether you are a tourist in a different country or a citizen of South Africa, we need to face reality and implement safety measures.”
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What Should We Do to Stay Safe?
As is our right, many of us expect law enforcement to respond to criminal activities and keep us safe. Consequently, when issues such as trafficking and kidnapping become highly prevalent, we tend to criticise the police for not fulfilling their duties.
However, Bianca said the investigations into missing persons is not as straightforward as it may seem. Numerous obstacles and various factors contribute to the challenges faced by SAPS and other entities in responding to the high number of cases in our country.
“If we look at our organisation and the number of cases being reported to us, it is so difficult to handle each and every case. Yes, we do, as an organisation, put in the effort with each and every case that gets reported to us, but we should not forget about all the cold cases of all the children that are still missing. We also have to follow up on those leads and make sure everything is still done in those cases.”
However, there are specialised units within the police service and related organisations dedicated to tirelessly handling each case.
Furthermore, Bianca contends that, in addressing this issue, citizens and communities exert significant influence in ensuring the safety of their fellow citizens and children. As such, they should not solely rely on the police to keep themselves and their families secure.
The responsibility extends beyond law enforcement, placing it on ordinary individuals who can report crimes and devise and implement safety measures to protect society’s most vulnerable members.
“We urge parents and Guardians to please monitor their children’s social media use, which could really make a difference. Also, we urge parents and Guardians to please be vigilant and Know Where Their Children Are at all times and whom they are with … We urge parents and Guardians to please educate their children from a young age with Interactive Learning. It does assist by keeping them safe.”
Parents and guardians are encouraged to visit the Missing Children SA website for more valuable tips on ensuring their children’s safety.
