Keep your child safe
This was when one of the girls recognized her brother in the picture and the school was able to contact the mother
A mother of three children is considered to be very lucky after sidestepping a case that could have turned out very bad.
On Tuesday, October 15 a picture of a small boy wearing a red jacket was posted on Facebook by a nursery school in eMalahleni.
Along with the picture was a caption that explained this boy was dropped off at the wrong school as he does not attend this school.
If anybody knows the boy they should contact the school.
WITBANK NEWS came across this post and immediately contacted Witbank Police Station to find out if a missing persons case had been opened by the parents of a young boy.
The communications officer, Sgt David Ratau knew how serious such a case can be and immediately went to the school where the boy was dropped off.
Upon arrival at the school the head teacher explained that they phoned all the other nursery schools in the area asking if they are missing a child but with no luck.
“On the camera you can see the driver taking the child to the gate and giving him a gentle push to indicate that this is where he needs to go,” the teacher explained.
Luckily one of the teachers made it her mission to show the picture of this boy to older students in the primary school section.
This was when one of the girls recognized her brother in the picture and the school was able to contact the mother.
While this was happening another man contacted the school stating that he knows the child and he will fetch him.
Being very experienced in his field Sgt Ratau knew that it would not be that simple.
He decided to wait at the school and to do a thorough investigation of whomever shows up to fetch the boy.
A woman showed up and explained that it is her son; she also mentioned that it was the first day with a new driver and that the driver must have made a mistake.
After questioning, asking questions like “What colour underwear is your son wearing?” and a search through her phone for pictures of the child it was confirmed that this indeed was the mother of the boy.
Sgt Ratau urges all parents to clearly mark their children’s school bags with their names and contact numbers.
He also stated that it is extremely important that parents ensure they know the driver personally and that the driver is aware of where the child needs to be dropped off.
“Parents need to make sure that their child is in the hands of a responsible adult, this case could have turned out into a kidnapping or murder,” Sgt Ratau explained.
While luck was on the side of this mother not everyone is so lucky.
In a closing statement Sgt Ratau mentioned that, “If I hear ‘child’, I don’t care if he is black, white or brown, I will help because that is my passion.”
