Bedfordview SAPS spokesperson Capt André de Jager appealed to the community to first verify information before acting upon it or sharing it.
Also read: Parents rush to pick up children following unconfirmed reports of schools being under threat
This comes after messages were shared on social media earlier today stating that schools in Ekurhurleni were being targeted.
The messages resulted in parents from Klopperpark Primary School and a number of schools in Katlehong rushing to fetch their children.
“There were only parents, concerned for the children’s safety, collecting children from Klopperpark Primary,” said de Jager.
No schools are on fire in Katlehong please don’t spread fake news. https://t.co/uSonL2l2WZ
— Panyaza Lesufi (@Lesufi) September 4, 2019
De Jager believes the parents’ concerns stemmed from unconfirmed information being shared on social media.
Also read: Parents rush to pick up children following unconfirmed reports of schools being under threat
Parents at Klopperpark Primary told the NEWS they were terrified.
They expressed great concern for the well-being of their children after they heard rumours that children were being kidnapped from schools.
Listen to what one dad had to say:
“I ran as fast as I could all the way from Karaglen Shopping Centre to Klopperpark Primary after hearing the rumours to get to my child,” one mother told the NEWS.
Many parents attributed their concerns to the public disturbances and looting occurring in the greater Johannesburg area.
Also read: LATEST – 5 things we know about the violent Joburg protests
No! Our school is not on fire please to spread fake news https://t.co/OyaSBxSZwU
— Panyaza Lesufi (@Lesufi) September 4, 2019
Bedfordview Community Police Forum’s chairperson, Gavin Henry, Henry assured the community that no children were kidnapped from any schools in the area.
The NEWS also received reports of violence and shops being looted in Klopperpark and surrounding areas.
Also read: VIDEO REPORT – Tensions rise in Germiston CBD following #Joburg protests
“We received a report of a looted shop in Elandsfontein but upon arrival officers found nothing,” said de Jager.
He said there was no violence or looting of shops in the Klopperpark area.
