KNYSNA NEWS - Renewed awareness regarding “stranger danger” and children's susceptibility to abduction was raised at schools in not only Greater Knysna but the entire Western Cape in recent weeks due to two separate incidents reported in the Mother City, while messages and voice posts containing misinformation on social media caused widespread panic.
Knysna-Plett Herald received dozens of messages from concerned parents asking whether there is any truth to rumours regarding the abduction of local children.
In a letter distributed to schools in the province from the Western Cape education department (WCED) head Brian Schreuder on 20 August, two reports of abduction attempts in Cape Town's City Bowl ''and another suburb'', are mentioned. Schreuder notes that each alleged incident “happened after school hours while learners were making their way to their respective transport departure points”.
He stresses that these incidents are of extreme concern to the department, and while "not wanting to be alarmist" he adds, “We need to ensure that every school is aware of these reported events and that they increase their vigilance during this time and going forward.”
Modus operandi
In a statement, provincial education minister Debbie Schäfer elaborates on the two incidents, saying they occurred in the Zonnebloem area specifically, where learners are reportedly targeted while travelling to and from school.
“Reports indicate the perpetrators are drugging learners and abducting them, one reporting the involvement of a white van,” reads the statement, adding that both cases have been reported to authorities.
According to WCED spokesperson Bronagh Hammond, no reports of any abductions or attempted abductions have been received from the Knysna area but learners at schools such as Knysna Primary School (KPS) have been warned about the dangers thereof and told to inform their parents.
Principal Rob Stoker explains: “We have had none such incidents, but merely wanted to stress the ‘stranger danger’ idea and make our kids and parents more aware of it as per WCED instructions. Our policy has always been for learners to wait inside school property till they can physically see their parents.”
Strict school policy
Even if parents phone the school to inform them that someone else would pick up their children, Stoker adds, the policy is that if the child does not know the person, that child goes nowhere.
Two of the voice messages that caused concern among parents were sent to KPH. In one, an unidentified woman explains she has just come out of a meeting with metro police and other role players, and she urges parents to immediately remove photos of their children from their Facebook and WhatsApp profiles as this is how prospective abductors identify their victims. She states at the end that this is occurring in the Sydenham, Newlands, Pinetown and Kloof areas – all areas in KwaZulu-Natal.
The second voice note hits closer to home though, referring to an abduction attempt at Kranshoek Primary School in Plettenberg Bay in which two vehicles were allegedly involved, but luckily no child was abducted. (See journalist Yolandé Stander's report below).
Another factor that added to not only parents’ but residents’ worries was the "missing person alert" issued recently for 16-year-old Chantell Baardman from Elandskraal, who went missing from the Knysna Waterfront area on 19 August.
Knysna-Plett Herald could not confirm with Knysna police that this incident is connected to any abduction. On a query regarding abduction statistics police spokesperson Sergeant Chris Spies said no incidents of abductions were reported to the Knysna SAPS.
Can you help?
Baardman, who has black hair, was last seen wearing blue jeans, a grey top with roses on, and black takkies. Contact Warrant Officer Peterson of the Knysna police on 074 041 2721, or Cheryl Britz of the Knysna CPF on 082 574 9657 with any information.
In line with this topic is a Plettenberg Bay local's ongoing school play regarding abduction, how to safeguard against it, and the tragedy families suffer when their children go missing. The play titled Dream, by Amanda Valela from Lunchbox Theatre in Plettenberg Bay, is Valela's intentional countermeasure to help girls and boys dream again amid these dangers, and the play was well received at the recent National Arts Festival in Grahamstown.
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