Tembisans urged to ensure children’s safety all the times

Ivory Park SAPS is concerned about an increase in the number of children reported missing in its policing precinct.

According to the Ivory Park SAPS communication officer, Captain Bernard Matimulane, they are appealing to parents and childminders to take reasonable steps of ensuring that their children are safe at all times.

“In the past several days as many as four children between the ages of seven and eight went missing. Fortunately, the police, with the valuable assistance of the local community, managed to locate all of the missing children unharmed. But the community is reminded that the media landscape is replete with stories of children who go missing for days on end, with others being found murdered and molested,” said Matimulane.

He added the Ivory Park SAPS understands that because of school holidays some of these children may be on their own for most of the day, with parents being at work and away.

“However, it is incumbent upon parents to ensure the safety of their children,” he said.

The acting station commander of the Ivory Park SAPS, Colonel Baba Mpotoane, said they call on parents and childminders alike to ensure that children are not allowed to play far away from their homes and that they should be checked on at regular intervals.

“In cases where the parents are at work or away, arrangements should be made to ensure that there is an adult minding the children,” added Mpotoane.

But, if for some reasons, a child goes missing, these are the steps to be taken immediately:

• Report the missing person immediately, there is no such thing as a waiting period.

• Provide as much information to the police as possible.

• Provide the latest photograph of the missing persons.

• Keep the investigating official up to date on any development all the time.

If you have any information relating to crime please contact the Ivory Park SAPS on 011 990 9600 or 08600 10111 or SMS Crime Line at 32211.