Too many children go missing
South Africa is ranked seventh in kidnappings worldwide, with most victims being women and children.
More than 1 300 children are kidnapped in South Africa every month, according to Missing Children South Africa.
South Africa is ranked seventh in kidnappings worldwide, with most victims being women and children.
It has also been declared a human trafficking hub.
There are currently five missing children in the Western Cape, including Joshlin Smith (6) who went missing in Saldanha Bay weeks ago.
“In Joshlin’s case, Saps had to deploy the best of the best because of the international attention the incident is receiving. But due to all the fake news being spread which derailed the investigation and wasted limited manpower and resources at a critical time,” says Martlé Keyter, CEO: operations, at the Motor Industry Staff Association (MISA).
“Numerous police officers and prosecutors have admitted to MISA that they don’t have the manpower or the expertise to investigate crime, let alone combat crime and do proper crime prevention. When there is a case like the one of Joshlin, all the other police stations are expected to send manpower to assist with the operation. But the same happens when they need to clamp down on illegal building occupation or to uproot illegal zamma-zammas.”
Keyter said Saps shed more than 8 000 detectives in six, years according to statistics in parliament last year. They simply can’t keep up to replace the expertise and manpower.
According to 2023/2024 Saps crime statistics, between July and September, there was an alarming 4 300 reported kidnapping cases, meanwhile 293 children and 881 women were murdered in the last quarter of 2023. More than 16 000 victims are kidnapped annually according to Statistics South Africa.
“In Joshlin’s case, very disturbing information emerged. In court, it was alleged that her mother, Kelly Smith, told her boyfriend, Jacquin (Boeta) Appollis and Stefano van Rhyn to sell her daughter to Phuma Sigaqa for R20 000. Sigaqa is allegedly a sangoma. The four suspects remain in custody while South Africa waits to hear her fate
“According to our constitution, a child’s best interests are of paramount importance in every matter concerning the child. We must see the same dedication from the police and media attention in the search not only for Joshlin, but also for the other four missing children in the province, and in the country. If not, something is terribly wrong,” says Keyter.
“MISA believes all cases of kidnapping should get the attention and urgency they need. No case should be less important. This is a pandemic in our country,” says Keyter.
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