Potential safety issue at Safikeng school receives urgent attention
FOURWAYS – Human trafficking threat at our back door. Read more here.
Several children from Safikeng Primary School had a narrow escape recently when they nearly became the victims of an attempted kidnapping.
On 29 May the school principal Lindiwe Molefe issued a warning to all parents, guardians and caregivers to be extra cautious and to take care.
“Be aware that some of our learners were nearly taken by an unknown taxi [driver] yesterday at the steps of the small gate from the prison to Paulshof and Petervale. Please ask the transport drivers to collect your children at the school and not at the small gate. It is not safe. We all know what is happening in our country,” said Molefe in her letter to the parents.
Ward councillor Candice James was shocked by the news and immediately arranged a talk about human trafficking for the Safikeng school children. She said human trafficking was a huge industry – the second largest after drugs.
The educational talk was done by representatives of Tiny Hands International, a non-profit organisation that fights against oppression and human trafficking. They explained to the children what they should do when a stranger approaches or attacks them. “I believe the more the children know, the better the chances that they can keep themselves safe. A total of 1.2 million children from Africa are trafficked every year,” said James.
Tiny Hands returned to the Safikeng School on 13 June to inform the older children as well.
“The gate positioned at the back of the prison, is not illegal. It has been strategically placed there according to the needs of the community of the Leeuwkop Management Area,” said Leeuwkop prison spokesperson Sanku Tsunke.
Tsunke explained that Leeuwkop prison officials as well as school children who make use of public transport usually use this gate. The management of Leeuwkop confirmed that it is not illegal to use the gate.
The potential safety issue of Sefikeng Primary’s children within Leeuwkop is being supervised by the Department of Education and the school management. The matter has also been referred to the department for investigation.
