Nequita van Wyk, a former Tzaneen resident, told the Letaba Herald that she and some friends went to the restaurant on September 30 at around 17:00.

“There was a kiddies party at the table behind us, the waiters of the restaurant were busy singing for the ones at the other table,” said Nequita.

“My eye was on a woman that spoke to my friend’s daughter at some point, but I did not make much of it,” she said. The woman walked out of the restaurant hand in hand with the little girl, according to Van Wyk.

“We noticed that she had left with her, one of my friends ran through the restaurant and we run onto the balcony area screaming her name,” said Nequita.

The unidentified kidnapper let go of the little girl’s hand and left the parking area in a black jeep, “Everything happened so fast,” said Nequita.

“People should please take caution, do not think that because you live in a small town this can never happen to you, it can happen anywhere”, Nequita warned Tzaneen residents.

The Limpopo Police Spokesperson Colonel Ronel Otto urges parents to know where their children are at every moment, especially the younger ones. “You should know what your children are doing, and teach them not to trust strangers and to run away when they feel uncomfortable. Teach them not to climb into strangers’ cars and not to take sweets and toys from them as this is how they lure them,” Otto said.

The case was not reported to the police. ‘The parent did not open a case, because what will they do about it,’ Nequita told the Herald.

‘It is of the utmost importance that any case whatsoever be reported to the police’, Dave Protter told the Herald.

According to Protter, child trafficking is unfortunately a reality. If people report cases like this, the possibility that a syndicate gets exposed, is not ruled out.

Be vigilant at all times no matter where you are with your children.

Anyone with information may contact the Police on 082 451 7553 or the nearest Police Station or the crime stop number 0860010111 for twenty-four hours.

Also read:

HUMAN TRAFFICKING: The road to a sex and slavery hell

SOEKMEKAAR: Search for missing girl (10)

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