The holiday season often leads to an increase in crowds at various public spaces.
As a result, the number of children reported missing also increases.
This is a parent or caregiver’s worst nightmare.
Ms Jacqui Marsh, from a vehicle tracking and recovery systems company, said the statistics of children who have gone missing are shocking.
She said a child goes missing every five hours and the SAPS received a total of 1 697 cases in 2013 alone.
“One of the first things a parent or caregiver must do is report that your little one has gone missing. There is no waiting period to report a missing child – you don’t need to wait 24 hours in order to report a missing child. The sooner you report that the child is missing, the better,” said Ms Marsh.
In order to report a missing child, a person must go to their nearest police station and complete a SAPS 55 form.
“This is a traumatic time, so we also suggest going with another individual, who may be able to assist you with the completion of the form, as well as perhaps driving you there and assisting you to follow procedures in order to assist with locating your child,” she said.
Ms Marsh said additional information that parents need to have with them when reporting a missing child is what the child was last wearing, a picture of the child and where the child went missing.
“These may all seem like obvious things that parents need to take into consideration, but when the situation arises it may be the last thing that is thought of,” she said.
Cartrack has joined the fight to reunite the country’s missing children with their loved ones by supporting Missing Children SA.
For more information about how to assist Missing Children SA, visit https://www.missingchildren.org.za
