Domestic Watch and South African Police customer service trainer Penny Steyn hosted another monthly Domestic Watch meeting in Willowild, Shelly Road Park on 18 June.
The meeting was aimed at domestic workers in Willowild and Bordeaux South with the present.
Each month Steyn introduces a different topic, and the focus for June has been child trafficking and missing children.
She said the shocking horror of more than 200 girls abducted in Nigeria by the Boko Haram, sparked a need for her to address this topic.
“Most parents or guardians think that their families could never fall victim to child trafficking and believe that there are more serious crimes that I should teach domestic workers,” said Steyn.
“Just as there are other lessons I have given the domestic workers, so too is this a topic. Whether it is your own children, grandchildren or your employee’s children, the reality is it could happen to any child.”
Steyn discussed why and how kidnapping could happen, who could be the predators, how children should be protected.
Randburg Police Sector 1 manager Constable Vincent Hlungweni and the Securitas Company advised the domestic workers on how they could protect children from being kidnapped.
Hlungweni stressed the importance of reporting any missing person immediately instead of waiting the required 24 hours.
“Do not wait to report the matter. The moment you see that something is wrong, call the police and make sure that you have a picture of the person you wish to report missing,” urged Hlungweni.
“You should always know where your child is, and what your child is doing. Know their friends and their families. And keep a record of what your child is wearing each day as this could be helpful to the police – should your child go missing,” advised Steyn.
